Bayliss Sets Early Pace
Added on Friday, April 25th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Bayliss Sets Early Pace
Runaway World Superbikes Championship leader Troy Bayliss overcame injury to record the fastest time of Friday’s free practice session in Assen.
The Australian showed no ill effects of his cycling crash on Wednesday in Monte Carlo as he recorded a lap time of 1:40.499
The time was almost two seconds off the current lap record set by James Toseland last year, but the times are expected to improve as the temperature increases.
Valencia race winner Noriyuki Haga finished as second fastest whilst German Max Neukirchner, who is riding with a plate in his collarbone following a crash in Valencia, continued his impressive form by finishing in third place and claiming the mantle as the top-ranked Suzuki.
Carlos Checa’s crash at the first chicane at the end of the session prevented him from recording anything better than a 5th place finish whilst Sterilgarda duo Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus has disappointing sessions.
Biaggi’s wrist injury caused him massive discomfort as he recorded the 20th fastest lap of the day, whilst Xaus could only manage six places higher.
Results:
1. Troy BAYLISS (Ducati Xerox Team) 1’40.499
2. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha Motor Italia) 1’40.688
3. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1’40.969
4. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1’41.003
5. Carlos CHECA (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) 1’41.015
6. Troy CORSER (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) YZF-R1 1’41.126
7. Karl MUGGERIDGE (D.F. Racing Honda) 1’41.154
8. Fonsi NIETO (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1’41.301
9. Lorenzo LANZI (R.G. Team Ducati) 1’41.336
10. Gregorio LAVILLA (Ventaxia VK Honda) 1’41.383
11. Makoto TAMADA (Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse) 1’41.387
12. Ayrton BADOVINI (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) 1’41.484
13. Jakub SMRZ (Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati) 1’41.485
14. Ruben XAUS (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) 1’41.660
15. David CHECA (Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94) 1’41.768
16. Regis LACONI (Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse) 1’41.822
17. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr). 1’41.870
18. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) 1’41.935
19. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati Xerox Team) 1’42.046
20. Max BIAGGI (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) 1’42.143
21. Roberto ROLFO (Hannspree Honda Althea) 1’42.352
22. Shinichi NAKATOMI (YZF Yamaha) 1’42.694
23. Arie VOS Fabricom – (MCT Racing Ducati) 1’42.698
24. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94) 1’42.926
25. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) 1’44.386
26. Loic NAPOLEONE (Grillini PBR Team Yamaha) 1’44.876
27. Russel HOLLAND (D.F. Racing – Bertocchi Honda) 1’44.911
28. Luca MORELLI (Alto Evolution Honda Superbike) 1’46.459
29. Shuhei AOYAMA (Alto Evolution Honda Superbike) 1’48.344
