BAYLISS SECOND QUICKEST FOR DUCATI XEROX TEAM IN OPENING
WSBK SESSION AT MONZA
Monza (Italy), Friday 5 May: Troy Bayliss set the second
quickest time for the Ducati Xerox Team in the opening World
Superbike qualifying session at the Autodromo di Monza. The
37 year-old Australian, who knocked four-tenths of a second
off his own circuit lap record, set way back in 2002, was
just a fraction behind provisional poleman Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha).
“I haven’t been to Monza for four years but the
first exit hit the memory button and I remembered the place
pretty well. Also the bike felt pretty good straightaway”
declared Troy. “After the first session I was a couple
of tenths under my old lap record from 2002 so it was nice
to go faster than that. This afternoon we tried a few things
but the track wasn’t in great condition because there
was a bit of rain, but I did a race simulation and was really
fast. I had Nori sitting on me the whole way which made me
go a little faster because he was in the slipstream but honestly
I expect a few more people to do that pace if they are with
me as well. It’s only Friday anyway so we’ll see
what tomorrow brings”.
Team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi, who was riding a World Superbike
machine for the first time at the high-speed Monza circuit,
was relatively satisfied with his twelfth-quickest time but
confident there was more to come as he gains more experience
with the track.
“It’s the first time for me on this track with
a Superbike, so I spent much of the day on a learning curve”
commented Lorenzo. “It wasn’t easy because this
is a very fast track and you have to have a keen eye. In the
afternoon I was improving but then it started to rain. I stayed
out and in the last quarter of an hour I was the only rider
to lap at a quick pace, together with Corser. I didn’t
improve much but all the others had done their times in the
first ten minutes when I didn’t have the right choice
of tyres on. All things considered I’m quite satisfied.
I did a lot of laps despite the light rain and I’m in
Superpole which is always a good thing. Tomorrow let’s
hope it doesn’t rain, but if it does, it’ll rain
for everyone”.
TIMES: 1. Haga (Yamaha) 1m47.007s; 2. Bayliss
(Ducati Xerox) 1m47.043s; 3. Corser (Suzuki) 1m47.591s; 4.
Toseland (Honda) 1m47.751s; 5. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1m47.763s;
6. Barros (Honda) 1m47.769s; 7. Pitt (Yamaha) 1m47.793s; 8.
Xaus (Ducati) 1m47.852s; … 12. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox)
1m48.575s.
TV COVERAGE. Eurosport (Pan European): Sunday
7 May, 1400 Race 1 (as live); 2300 Race 2 (delayed). La7 (Italy):
Sunday 7 May, 1615 Races 1 & 2 (as live).
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