Friday May 5 2006
Qualifying 1 - Monza

Troy Bayliss set the second quickest time for the Ducati Xerox Team in the opening World Superbike qualifying session at the Autodromo di Monza. The 37 year-old Australian, who knocked four-tenths of a second off his own circuit lap record, set way back in 2002, was just a fraction behind provisional poleman Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha).

“I haven’t been to Monza for four years but the first exit hit the memory button and I remembered the place pretty well. Also the bike felt pretty good straightaway” declared Troy. “After the first session I was a couple of tenths under my old lap record from 2002 so it was nice to go faster than that. This afternoon we tried a few things but the track wasn’t in great condition because there was a bit of rain, but I did a race simulation and was really fast. I had Nori sitting on me the whole way which made me go a little faster because he was in the slipstream but honestly I expect a few more people to do that pace if they are with me as well. It’s only Friday anyway so we’ll see what tomorrow brings”.



Team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi, who was riding a World Superbike machine for the first time at the high-speed Monza circuit, was relatively satisfied with his twelfth-quickest time but confident there was more to come as he gains more experience with the track.

“It’s the first time for me on this track with a Superbike, so I spent much of the day on a learning curve” commented Lorenzo. “It wasn’t easy because this is a very fast track and you have to have a keen eye. In the afternoon I was improving but then it started to rain. I stayed out and in the last quarter of an hour I was the only rider to lap at a quick pace, together with Corser. I didn’t improve much but all the others had done their times in the first ten minutes when I didn’t have the right choice of tyres on. All things considered I’m quite satisfied. I did a lot of laps despite the light rain and I’m in Superpole which is always a good thing. Tomorrow let’s hope it doesn’t rain, but if it does, it’ll rain for everyone”.

TIMES: 1. Haga (Yamaha) 1m47.007s; 2. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m47.043s; 3. Corser (Suzuki) 1m47.591s; 4. Toseland (Honda) 1m47.751s; 5. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1m47.763s; 6. Barros (Honda) 1m47.769s; 7. Pitt (Yamaha) 1m47.793s; 8. Xaus (Ducati) 1m47.852s; … 12. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1m48.575s.

TV COVERAGE.
Eurosport (Pan European): Sunday 7 May, 1400 Race 1 (as live); 2300 Race 2 (delayed). La7 (Italy): Sunday 7 May, 1615 Races 1 & 2 (as live).