CORSER TAKES OPENING DAY ADVANTAGE AT VALENCIA - REIGNING CHAMP REASSERTS AUTHORITY Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) won the opening battle of the Valencia weekend, taking the fastest time in the first qualifying session. With dark clouds overhead, and a cooling track surface, Corser displaced the man who looked likely to take the fastest lap, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) with his 1’34.920 lap, easing out his countryman by 0.043 seconds.

MARTIN MAGNIFICENT FOR THE PETRONAS TEAM Despite giving away 100cc to most of the competition, Steve Martin (Foggy Petronas FP-1) scored another remarkable milestone for both himself and his team by securing third fastest time on the opening day. Some 0.733 seconds shy of Corser, Martin nonetheless beat a further 30 riders to record his third place, at a circuit which clearly suits the sweet-handling three-cylinder FP-1.

HAGA COMPLETES TOP FOUR Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) headed off the challenge of his friend and countryman Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) to take fourth place on the timesheets on day one. Just behind, local hero Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati) proved top Spanish rider in sixth place. A quite superb showing from Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France) saw him seventh fastest, at a circuit he was challenging for a podium finish at in 2005, before crashing out of contention. Lorenzo Lanzi survived a late fall on his Ducati Xerox machine with bumps and bruises, but still set the eighth best time.

NIETO TOP KAWASAKI RIDER IN SPAIN During a day ended by the threat of rain that never came, Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki) blasted his way to ninth fastest time, despite failing to set a completely clean lap on his ZX-10R. Privateer Alstare Suzuki rider Fabien Foret showed his speed and ability to learn quickly by posting a top ten time in only his third World Superbike meeting.

TOSELAND THE FASTEST HONDA RIDER AFTER THE OPENING SALVOS After Valencia tests in March James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) stated that the Ricardo Tormo circuit would be a tough one for his machine, and thus far the rider who is second in the 2006 classification has proved his own predictions true. His 11th place after one day is expected to be improved upon, if day two dawns dry, as he spent much of the first day experimenting with set-up. Alex Barros was second fastest Honda rider, 12th quickest overall on his Klaffi Honda, having suffered a crash in the morning session, and having to use a single bike in the afternoon.

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) dismissed the previous qualifying lap record with ease on the first day at Valencia, breaking into the 1’36 bracket with his 1’36.913. His closest challenger, Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) was fully 1.029 seconds behind the French Supersport Superstar, with another Honda rider, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda) in third, proving that he has largely recovered from the wrist injury he suffered at the start of the season. Once more Danish rider Robbin Harms impressed with his speed on Stiggy Motorsports Honda, setting fourth best time in a field of 38 would-be qualifiers. Spanish-resident American Kenny Noyes (Yamaha Team GMT94) was 14th fastest.