Qatar World Superbikes: Corser from Bayliss in WSB qualifying

Troy Corser declared that the conditions in Qatar were the windiest he’s ever ridden in during his illustrious career, but then went out and put his Yamaha Italia R1 on provisional pole position.

Corser shrugged off the difficult conditions and completed 18 laps having clearly benefited from his two day test at the track last week, which meant that he was able to set the pace from the opening lap.

Another man that enjoyed a successful test and first day of qualifying was Troy Bayliss onboard the Xerox Ducati. Bayliss had to work hard in the windy conditions to tame his Ducati after breaking his collarbone in January, but looked back to his aggressive best around the 5.38KM Qatar circuit.

Suzuki’s Fonsi Nieto continued his impressive pace to claim third spot for Alstare Suzuki whilst Haga survived a big high to set the fourth fastest lap.

Yukio Kagayama showed his pace yet again around the Qatar track to take fifth whilst Ducati men Ruben Xaus, Lorenzo Lanzi and Max Biaggi were hard to split in sixth, seventh and eighth.

The Ten Kate Honda trio endured a tough day with the new CBR1000RR. Carlos Checa finished up in 13th place with Ryuichi Kiyonari in 21st and Kenan Sofuoglu down in 25th over four seconds off the pace.

World Superbike first qualifying results:

1 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’59.627
2 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’59.853
3 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’00.307
4 41 N. HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 2’00.476
5 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’00.599
6 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’00.695
7 57 L. LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’00.724
8 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’00.744
9 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 2’00.857
10 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’00.904
11 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 2’00.937
12 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.086
13 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.409
14 86 A. BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’01.677
15 36 G. LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.729
16 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’01.955
17 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 2’01.984
18 44 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 2’02.004
19 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’02.100
20 13 V. IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’02.256
21 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’02.494
22 22 L. MORELLI ITA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 2’02.980
23 83 R. HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 2’03.006
24 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 2’03.542
25 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 2’03.765
26 88 S. AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 2’03.796
27 100 M.TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’04.264
28 77 L. NAPOLEONE FRA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 2’06.363