21.12.2006 @ 19:37:56

WSBK: 2nd day of test
A grippier and wider racing line around the 5.380km Losail circuit allowed the cream of the World Superbike paddock to scores some impressive times on the latest generation of Pirelli race rubber on the second day of testing.

Fastest man yesterday was Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) with a 1'58.9 on a race tyre - close to the 1'58.7 best he has previously set on a qualifier, in perfect conditions during a private test.

TOSELAND THREE TENTHS FROM BAYLISS – James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was close on Bayliss' tail, and professed that the track conditions were immeasurably better than day one, albeit with a stiff wind still playing its part.

His time of 1'59.1 was four tenths faster than third quickest rider, Fonsi Nieto (PSP-1 Kawasaki Corse) who had a morale-boosting day two. The top four places were completed by Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia), using 2007 suspension units on his all-new R1.

LANZI THE FIRST RIDER OUTSIDE – 1'59 Lorenzo Lanzi improved on his first day best time with a 2'00.3, only one tenth faster than rookie SBK rider Max Biaggi (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) who set a 2'00.4. In joint seventh place on the day two sheets Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Régis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki) shared a best of 2'00.6 time, with Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) only a tenth behind that, in what was a close second day on the stopwatches. Robby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) improved on his first day time with a 2'02.2.

One day of testing remains for all riders present in Qatar.

SUPERSPORT RIDERS PICK UP THE PACE – Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) continued his fast form from day one, setting the pace with a 2'03.3 lap.
Gianluca Nannelli (SC Caracchi Ducati) was second by just over a tenth while Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) put in a day two time of 2'00.9.

Fabien Foret (GIL Motorsports Kawasaki) found almost three second on the second day on his new model ZX-6RR, to set a 2.04.78. Pere Riba (Gil Motorsports Kawasaki) lost some time after a fast crash wrecked his bike in the early morning, leaving him on a 2'06.3.

Superbike laptimes – 20/12/06: 1.Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1'58”9; 2. Toseland (GB- Honda) 1'59”1; 3. Nieto (Spa-Kawasaki) 1'59”5; 4. Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1'59”7; 5. Lanzi (Ita-Ducati) 2'00”3; 6. Biaggi (id-Suzuki) 2'00”4; 7. Laconi (Fra-Kawasaki) 2'00”6; 8. Haga (Gia-Yamaha) 2'00”6; 9. Kagayama (id-Suzuki) 2'00”7; 10. Rolfo (Ita-Honda) 2'02”2.

Supersport lap times – 20/12/06: 1.Parkes (Aus-Yamaha) 2'03”3; 2. Nannelli (Ita- Ducati) 2'03”4; 3. Curtain (Aus-Yamaha) 2'03”9; 4. Foret (Fra-Kawasaki) 2'04”7; 5. Riba (Spa-id) 2'06”3.
SBK Press Office