Donington World Superbikes: Troy Bayliss on provisional pole

Troy Bayliss claimed provisional pole position during this afternoons opening qualifying session for Sunday’s two World Superbike races at Donington Park.

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Despite heavy rain throughout the one hour long session Bayliss traded places with Ten Kate Honda man Ryuichi Kiyonari as the two men set impressive lap times in the treacherous conditions.

Bayliss said:

“Compared to this mornings session there was a lot more water on the track this afternoon. The times were good though and I think I was nearly three seconds faster today than I was last year here in the wet on the 999.

“We’ve had to change a lot on the bike to get it working but everything we did ended up being in the right direction and worked well.

“I was having some big slides out there though. At Hollywood, Coppice and Goddards it’s pretty slippery and you really have to be on your toes going down Craner in these conditions.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari set the pace at the beginning of the session and survived two crashes to finish the day second fastest. The Japanese rider who won both races last time out at Brands Hatch said:

“I started to get a lot of confidence in the front tyre as it was working well, but I think I started to push too hard. Going through Schwantz I lost the front, saved it but then lost it again and crashed. It was a fast one but I am OK, just sorry for my mechanics.”

British honour was upheld with all five Brits in the top 11. Top honours went to Cal Crutchlow onboard the HMPlant Honda claimed third, followed by Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes in fourth and local man Leon Haslam in fifth. Hydrex Honda rider claimed tenth with VentAxia Honda’s Chris Walker in 11th.

1 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’44.377
2 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’44.528
3 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR HM Plant Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’44.627
4 66 T. SYKES GBR Rizla Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 k 1’44.682
5 91 L. HASLAM GBR HM Plant Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’44.813
6 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’45.384
7 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’45.725
8 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’45.936
9 36 G. LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.044
10 80 J. ELLISON GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.392
11 9 C. WALKER GBR Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.553
12 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’46.803
13 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.912
14 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’46.924
15 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’47.114
16 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’47.344
17 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’47.624
18 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’47.778
19 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’47.834
20 44 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1’48.031
21 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’48.092
22 86 A. BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’48.463
23 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’48.724
24 41 N. HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’48.841
25 57 L. LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’48.915
26 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’50.349
27 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1’50.454
28 13 V. IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’51.703
29 100 M.TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’52.710
30 73 C. ZAISER AUT Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 1’53.923
31 22 L. MORELLI ITA D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’54.032
32 50 M. LYNN USA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’54.910
33 88 S. AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’56.132