BAYLISS BEATS THE BEST Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) continued his fantastic run of testing form in his return to World SBK™ by posting a best first day time of 1’34.9 at Valencia. Favourable track and weather conditions contributed to every rider’s opening day performance, but Bayliss was in a class of his own, turning in a time only 0.267 seconds from the absolute Valencia SBK™ best. Bayliss’s team-mate, Lorenzo Lanzi, scored fourth quickest time, with a 1’36.8. None of the top riders were issued Pirelli qualifying tyres on the first day.

TOSELAND ADAPTS WELL TO HONDA POWER Second fastest rider was another former World Champion, and the man Bayliss replaced in the Ducati Xerox team, James Toseland, who scored a 1’35.8. Toseland’s team-mate, Karl Muggeridge, did not concentrate much effort on setting lap times on day one, as he worked through a gruelling chassis testing programme. Nonetheless he went third fastest, thanks to a 1’36.1.

ABE TOP YAMAHA RUNNER Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) posted a best time of 1’36.9 almost equalling the quickest lap of his 2005 qualifying efforts. As a non Pirelli Development Team rider, Abe – like many of his peers - lapped on 2005 spec rubber throughout. Ivan Clementi (Pedercini Ducati) was in fine form also, scoring a 1’37.2, while his new team-mate Max Neukirchner set a 1’37.5.

ROLFO LEARNS NEW ROLE SWIFTLY Roberto Rolfo (Caracchi Ducati) matched Neukirchner’s 1’37.5, proving that the former 250cc and MotoGP rider is learning the ropes of this new discipline quickly. A strong Ducati presence was completed by Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati), Marco Borciani (Sterilgarda Ducati) and Norino Brignola. Fabien Foret, on a ‘home-brewed’ Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki, ran out with a best of 1’38.7 in his first test after his promotion from SS™.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) made his latest outing a memorable one after only one day, with a best of 1’37.6 - almost a second faster than his nearest challenger, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda). New to the SS™ class, Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda) posted a 1’39.5, the same as young Turk, Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda). A rash of new riders in Supersport World Championship® 2006 includes Aussie Josh Brookes, who made his latest transition from Honda power to Ducati power on a 1’41.3. Nedog (Caracchi Ducati), scored a 1’43.4.



Bayliss Ducati Xerox 1.34’’9
Toseland Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.35’’8
Muggeridge Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.36’’1
Lanzi Ducati Xerox 1.36’’8
Abe Yamaha France 1.36’’9
Clementi Team Pedercini 1.37’’2
Rolfo Team Ducati SC Caracchi 1.37’’5
Neukirchner Team Pedercini 1.37’’5
Pedercini Team Pedercini 1.37’’9
Borciani Sterilgarda Berik
Foret Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1.38’’7

Charpentier Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.37’’6
Fujiwara Megabike Honda Team 1.38’’4
Tiberio Megabike Honda Team 1.39’’5
Sofouglu Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.39’’5
Brooks Team Ducati SC Caracchi 1.41’’3
Nedog Team Ducati SC Caracchi 1.43’44


QATAR TEST DAY ONE While one significant part of the Superbike World Championship® grid was sunning itself at high speed in Valencia, another faction was lapping Qatar in testing mode.
Team Yamaha Motor Italia and the DFX Honda squad were making the most of the desert heat, with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) fastest on day one of three, on a 2’02.00. His team-mate Andrew Pitt, the 2001 SS™champion, was just 0.2 seconds behind.
New SBK™inductee, Michel Fabrizio (DFX Honda) scored a 2’03.00, while the most experienced SBK™ rider of all, Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Honda) scored 2’03.10.
On the second day times tumbled, as the Yamaha squad made advances with their new electronics systems, even if none of the riders present had any 2006 Pirelli development tyres available to them to test.
Haga was fastest on a 2’01.6, with Pitt almost keeping pace on a 2’01.7. Chili’s experience showed with his best of 2’01.8 while Fabrizio posted a 2.02 flat. The DFX Honda pairing worked through new front forks and three designs of rear swingarm.

1. Haga Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team 2'01"6
2. Pitt Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team Yamaha 2'01"7
3. Chili D.F.X Treme Honda 2'01"8
4. Fabrizio D.F.X. Treme Honda 2'02"0