World Superbikes Qatar test: Troy Bayliss fires warning shot

Troy Bayliss fired a warning shot to his World Superbike rivals by topping the timesheets onboard the all new Ducati 1098F08 on the final day of the three day winter test in Qatar.

• To see Troy Bayliss on the new Ducati 1098, click here

After two days experimenting with what worked on the new bike, Troy Bayliss got the 1098 dialled into his style and in near perfect conditions set the fastest ever Superbike lap around the 5.380KM circuit. Bayliss’ performance wasn’t just a one lap wonder after the 38-year-old Australian set a number of mid to high 1:58 laps.

Second spot went to an ever improving Noriyuki Haga onboard the Yamaha Italia R1. Haga worked through a number of suspension, chassis and electrical updates as well as completing his tyre testing duties and ended the day with a best lap of 1:58.4.

Troy Corser who topped the time sheets on the first two days was forced to sit out of the final day following his second front end crash onboard his Yamaha.

Corser lost the front on his out lap whilst trying a hard Pirelli front tyre and battered and bruised himself and his left hand as he went into the gravel trap. Unfortunately in Qatar the gravel traps are made up of mainly big uneven stones, making it another painful get off for the 35-year-old.

Fourth spot went to Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s new signing Carlos Checa, who continued to impress on his World Superbike debut although was disappointed not to improve further after such a fast start yesterday.

Checa worked through the Pirelli development tyres and spent a large part of the day adapting after being on prototype Michelin’s in MotoGP.

Troy Bayliss’ team-mate Michel Fabrizio made a solid start to his factory Ducati career after posting a 1:59.1 having consistently improved throughout the three day test.

His lap time was matched by Spaniard Fonsi Nieto onboard the Alstare Suzuki, who also spent the test tyre testing and continuing to adapt to the new bike.

Yukio Kagayama was too busy testing new parts to chase one fast lap time and ended the test down in sixth, frustrated at his pace, but happy with development.

Reigning British Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari had a baptism of fire on his World Superbike debut.

In Supersport Australian Broc Parkes set a blistering pace onboard the 2008 spec Yamaha R6 with his French team-mate Fabien Foret in second spot.

Ten Kate Honda rider Andrew Pitt was third having also completed two race runs today.

Garry McCoy and the Triumph partnership got off to a flying start and he ended the test in fourth but significantly just 0.5 seconds behind Andrew Pitt on the championship winning Honda.

Fellow Aussie Paul Young ended up fifth but with only one Triumph between both riders didn’t get the opportunity to push for an outright fast lap.

World Superbikes Qatar test day three results:

1 Bayliss Ducati 1098 F08 Ducati Xerox 1’58.1
2 Haga Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’58.4
3 Corser Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’58.6
4 Checa Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1’59.0
5 Nieto Suzuki GSXR1000K7 Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1’59.1
6 Fabrizio Ducati 1098 F08 Ducati Xerox 1’59.1
7 Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000K7 Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 2’00.9
8 Kiyonari Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 2’01.8

World Supersport Qatar test day three results:

1 Parkes Yamaha YZF R6 Yamaha Motor WSS 2’01.9
2 Foret Yamaha YZF R6 Yamaha Motor WSS 2’02.5
3 Pitt Honda CBR600RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 2’03.0
4 Mc Coy Triumph 675 Triumph – SC 2’03.5
5 Paul Young Triumph 675 Triumph – SC 2’06.5