Saturday Jun 16 2007
Superpole

Misano Adriatico (Italy), Saturday 16 June: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) just missed out on the top slot in an exciting Superpole session at a scorching hot Misano. Fastest in overall qualifying and with a green light after the first two splits in the one-lap dash, Troy then made a small mistake in the final section and had to settle for second behind Troy Corser (Yamaha), who notched up a record 40 pole positions. Lorenzo Lanzi also produced a good performance today, recording third-quickest time in qualifying and then finishing a positive sixth in Superpole.

"I'm pretty happy with how everything went, I did a good lap but made a bit of a mistake in the last part. I didn't have a good line through the fast part and then coming onto the straight I didn't put the gear in properly and missed it twice and that cost me pole but never mind, I'm on the front row and that's important" declared Troy.



Troy also spoke about a curious incident in the final few minutes of the morning's second qualifying session during a head-to-head battle with Corser. "I did my lap and saw I was fastest so came in with a couple of minutes left but my chief mechanic Moro gave me the sign like I was second and I thought Oh no! Now I've got to go out again!' so I rolled straight though for a fly-by and put in a good lap to end up quickest in the session".

"It's a pity not to start from the front row, but today in Superpole I just couldn't go any better than sixth place so I'll be starting from row 2. Here it's vitally important to start up at the front at this circuit because the first corner is very close and the first part of the circuit is really tough" commented Lorenzo. "We worked well all day to improve, we didn't alter the set-up very much but found a few things that I like. I'm particularly pleased because I lapped more or less at the same times as in the tests. The feeling with the bike is good and all the team did a great job today".

TIMES: 1. 1. Corser (Yamaha) 1m34948s; 2. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m35.104s; 3. Haga (Yamaha) 1m35.458s; 4. Toseland (Honda) 1m35.572s; 5. Biaggi (Suzuki) 1m35.578s; 6. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1m36.026s; 7. Xaus (Ducati) 1m36.131s; 8. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m36.206s; etc.

TV Coverage (UK): Eurosport 2 - Saturday 16 June, 1700 Superpole (delayed). Sunday 17 June, 1150 Race 1 (live), 1520 Race 2 (live). TV Coverage (Italy): La7 - Saturday 16 June, 1600 Superpole (live). Sunday 17 June, 1150 Race 1 (live), 1520 Race 2 (live). RaiDue, 1730 Races 1 & 2 (highlights).