POINTS LEADER TAKES A CLEAR ADVANTAGE ON DAY ONE Having recently confirmed that he will ride for his current Ducati factory squad for two more seasons, 2001 world champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) set about the first day of work at Assen with some relish, leading the field for the majority of the first qualifying hour before setting an unbeatable lap of 1’39.336 near the end of the session. He was only followed into the 1’39s by his own team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi, who set an opening day personal best of 1’39.888 at the new-look 4.555km Assen circuit.

CLOSE TIMES FOR THE CHALLENGERS AT ASSEN
With rain always a possibility at Assen, it was important for the top riders to post a fast first day time, in case the second and final regulation qualifying session dawns wet. Thus the competition from third place to 16th place (the last spot in Superpole) was covered by less than a second. In third place on the timesheets Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda) posted a 1’40.171, 0.8 seconds behind Bayliss. James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) pushed his way to fourth, despite losing time in the first section of the track; the modified and shortened section.

PROVISIONAL SECOND ROW HEADED BY BARROS
With a new crew chief to oversee operations, Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) scored fifth fastest time on his first visit to the new Assen, holding off the close attentions of top Yamaha qualifier, Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia). Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) was an assured seventh and top Ducati privateer proved to be former Assen race winner, Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik), blooding the nose of many riders on ostensibly faster machines.

HAGA ON OVERNIGHT ROW THREE AHEAD OF MUGGERIDGE
Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) made a relatively safe Superpole qualifying performance on day one, leading Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) on the time sheets by 0.134 seconds. Top Kawasaki rider on day one was Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) 11th, but ahead of first day toiler, Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra). Seldom has the third row held so much proven race-winning talent.

WALKER 13th FASTEST
Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) eased into his task on day one at Assen, finishing just a second down on second place qualifying position, and second in the Kawasaki rankings. His team-mate Fonsi Nieto was 14th, while the DFX Treme Honda squad put two riders into the top 16, when Pierfrancesco Chili rode to 15th. Last rider in the provisional qualifying top 16 was Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France Ipone).

CLEMENTI MAKES GOOD PROGRESS FOR PEDERCINI
Ivan Clementi (Pedercini Ducati) gave his Pedercini squad a morale boosting start to the weekend scoring 17th fastest time from 28 qualifiers. Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) was just outside the Superpole arena also, 18th fastest, with Roberto Rolfo (Ducati SC Caracchi) scoring 19th place, and privateer entrant Vittorio Iannuzzo (Celani Team Suzuki), 20th. Max Neukirchner (Alstare Engineering Corona Extra) scored 23rd on day one of his championship return. Kurtis Roberts (Pedercini Ducati) was 27th, with the Petronas of Steve Martin 22nd, having set only 15 laps.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) was fully 0.421 seconds clear of second fastest rider Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) on the first day of Supersport action at the recently revamped Assen. Kai Borre Andersen (Hoegee Suzuki) was an impressive third fastest, while local expertise from Dutchman Barry Veneman (Hoegee Suzuki) put him fourth, and gave GSX-R fans a glory day to remember.

Monza race winner Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda) scored fifth fastest time, some 1.129 seconds behind Charpentier. Equal points leader so far, Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) was only eighth fastest, just one place ahead of overall fourth placed rider in the table, Robbin Harms (Stiggy Motorsports Honda).

SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP
Claudio Corti (Yamaha Team Italia) made the best of the first day at Assen, only taking provisional pole by 0.012 seconds from Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta). These two riders enjoyed a clear advantage in lap times over their main rivals, with Brendan Roberts (HP Racing Suzuki) third, some 0.9 seconds from Corti. Luca Scassa (EVR Corse Ormeni Racing) finished of the top four, in a field with 37 riders.

SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Ducati Xerox rider Claudio Canepa was a clear fastest qualifier, with Andrea Antonelli (Junior Team Italia Honda) second. Corti headed up championship leader Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) by almost 0.4 seconds as Simeon was leapfrogged by Antonelli in the last section.