Bayliss saves best till last to top Ducati test

Despite announcing that he will not make a comeback and race in the World Superbike Championship, Troy Bayliss left Misano at the top of the time sheets having out paced Noriyuki Haga, Michel Fabrizio, Carlos Checa and Shane Byrne.

The three time WSB champion set a stunning 1.35.6s best on his very last lap of the day to lead the way by 0.4 seconds. His achievement was all the more incredible given the fact that unlike Haga and Fabrizio who set their best times on a qualifier, Bayliss failed to lap quicker on his qualifying tyre and ended up posting his best lap using a new prototype race tyre from Pirelli.

Speaking exclusively to MCN, Bayliss said: My qualifier didn’t really work for me and I had to change the bike around a bit but I came in and said to Ernie (Ernesto Marinelli – Team boss and crew chief) ‘what have we got left (tyre) because I ain’t going home without doing a 1.35’. I put my head down and I’m happy because it’s the fastest I’ve ever been around Misano on a race tyre.”

Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga remained up beat despite being outgunned by Pirelli with both men showing impressive race pace and consistency in the sweltering conditions. Haga suffered a fast crash on his second qualifying tyre in the final minutes of the day, but was uninjured and confident he could have posted a sub 1.36 best had he completed the lap.

Carlos Checa was once again hugely impressive setting times on a race tyre quicker than Haga. The Spanish rider did not get the opportunity to use a qualifying tyre but is well placed in terms of bike set-up for when the world Superbike round takes place at the San Marino track at the end of the month.

Italian Lorenzo Lanzi had a good test to finish ahead of Shane Byrne who was also fast and consistent onboard his Althea Ducati. The impressive Luca Scassa was just 0.1 seconds behind Byrne with Frenchman Regis Laconi, who announced his intention to return to racing at Misano 0.8 seconds off.

Monday test times:

Troy Bayliss – 1.35.6 (Race tyre)
Michel Fabrizio – 1.36.0 (Qualifier)
Carlos Checa – 1.36.3 (race tyre)
Noriyuki Haga – 1.36.4 (Qualifier)
Lorenzo Lanzi – 1.36.6 (race tyre)
Shane Byrne – 1.36.8 (race tyre)
Luca Scassa – 1.36.9 (race tyre)
Regis Laconi – 1.37.7 (race tyre)