WSBK – Expert Baylisstic … –

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Baylisstic expert…

WSBK - Expert Baylisstic ... -

With tests in Valencia and Misano dominated by one man, the World Superbike break was getting a bit long and monotonous … Fortunately, this weekend the riders will clarify this crucial point: is Bayliss beatable ?

The third round of the World Superbike takes place this weekend in Valencia. Last year, it was Troy Corser who literally pulverized the competition, both in practice and in the race (read)…

The scenario could well repeat itself this year, with the difference that the arch-domineering Troy will bear the name of Bayliss this time … Because not happy to have led the Valencia trials three years ago weeks (read), the Australian championship leader once again largely dominated the last tests taking place Misano on April 13 and 14.

Bayliss: catch me if you can !

In view of the best lap times, Bayliss’s domination is less obvious than during the Valencia tests. Still, turning half a second faster than the second driver – reigning world champion, by the way! – represents a great achievement !

A performance all the more impressive as he broke the track record during these tests, which he himself had signed in 2002. With a typically Anglo-Saxon calm, Bayliss coldly analyzes his performance : " I’m happy with these tests because I haven’t been back to Misano since 2002. I managed to find my bearings quickly, I’ve been really comfortable with my machine for some time. The track conditions were excellent and I hope that for the month of June they will remain the same at the time of the race.".

Also holder of the Valencia track record, it is difficult to see the 50 points awarded to the winners of the two Superbike races escaping Troy Bayliss. Yet there is no shortage of contenders for victory !

Misano? A track for twins

Starting of course with his compatriot Troy Corser, who set the second fastest time in practice and is rather satisfied with his short stay at Misano. His work mainly focused on suspensions, he said, has resulted in "a significant improvement"the behavior of his Suzuki.

Corser also appreciated the Pirelli 200 mm tire which gives it better grip on the maximum angle but slightly handicaps it on angle changes: "we don’t waste so much time, but it makes us work more !", he sums up.

As for the classification, even before having put its wheels on the Italian track, the Australian alligator was right: "Misano has always been a circuit for twins so we knew we would have to hunt down Bayliss. His bike seems to have this little extra that pushes him out of slow turns". Does Corser have a bitter memory of last year’s Italian race? ?

Ninjas go on fire

He no doubt remembers that during the Misano 2005 event, the French Regis Laconi had achieved a superb double (read). Neither the Honda of Vermeulen, nor the Suzuki of the favorite Corser had then managed to beat the official Ducati, driven by a supercharged Regis.

But 2006 promises to be more difficult for the Moselle who has this year the powerful – but very delicate – four-cylinder Kawasaki, even if as on the Suzuki, the efforts made on the suspension settings have paid off. Will the track in Valence allow him to return to the forefront? ?

In addition to signing the sixth fastest time in tests, Regis is particularly pleased with the fact that "on racing rubber, I was able to line up 1 ‘34.4, 1’ 34.7 and 1 ‘34.8". A good omen for the Italian meeting on June 25 !

His Kawasaki Corse teammates are also satisfied with the progress made by the ZX-10R: the bubbling Chris Walker – fifth fastest – finally admits having fun on the bike, although he still needs to save his efforts to get the best out of the bike. Ninja and fight the entire distance of the race.

Unlike Corser, the Briton was more reserved about the benefits of a 200mm tire: "we did not suffer from vibrations, except with the very wide rear tire", he said. This weekend, Chris will be keen to improve his results last year in Valencia: fourth, then third…

For his part, Fonsi Nieto took the seventh fastest time in Italian practice but ensures that without the interruption of the last session due to the presence of oil on the track, he would have "could do the second or third time. The bike is good and the team perfect, so I’m happy !", concludes the young Spanish.

Noriyuki Haga for his part preferred not to resume the track after the presence of oil at the entrance of the first corner. Ranked third at the end of the last day, the Japanese could also have set a better time if Kagayama had not been in front of him on his lap….

Nitro Nori remains nonetheless – by far! – the fastest Yamaha at Misano. For this weekend’s race, the Japanese will be able to appeal to his glorious memories: he has already won twice in Valencia on very different motorcycles: Ducati 999RS in 2004 and Yamaha R7 in 2000….

During the last tests, Haga beat Lorenzo Lanzi who has the same frame as Bayliss. But the young Italian – who was unable to complete his training program – remains less competitive than his teammate: "today I managed to take a big step forward, although this afternoon I had a little trouble with the race tires".

Honda absent ?

The big absentees from the Italian tests were the Honda Ten Kate: "we decided not to participate in the Misano tests because we had to work on the motorcycle and the engine in our workshops"explains team manager Ronald Ten Kate.

Suddenly James Toseland – second in the championship a small point behind Bayliss – could not compete with his little comrades. "I believe in this race (Valence, editor’s note), although I know that Bayliss will be very fast and that Corser and Haga will also be two big customers", analyzes English which narrowly missed the double in 2004.

This weekend, Toseland will also exceptionally team up with Giovanni Bussei because Karl Muggeridge, who fractured his twelfth dorsal vertebra and second lumbar during the tests in Valencia, will only return for the Misano races..

The other Honda teams were present but remained rather discreet during the last tests. Pierfransceco Chili, the unlucky one, did not even complete ten laps. Victim of a heavy fall on his hip, the Italian will be replaced for the next four events by his compatriot Gianluca Nannelli.

Already registered in Supersport on Ducati 748, Nannelli will race this weekend in both categories, as he brilliantly did at Monza last year (read). Careful during the two rounds in Valencia, the "Nanna" has already promised that he will be very quick at Monza … To watch closely !

Even Alex Barros, who started a promising collection of podiums in Australia, only set the 13th fastest time. We can nevertheless expect to see the Brazilian in a much better position this weekend in Valencia: in 2002 on the same track and riding a MotoGP RCV, he had managed to beat Doctor Rossi himself. !

The French

On the French side, Regis Laconi’s excellent sixth time seems to have inspired Sebastien Gimbert and Fabien Foret who finished 11th and 12th respectively in tests, just six tenths behind the Kawa..

On his French R1, Sebastien Gimbert managed to follow behind the second rider of the official Yamaha team, Andrew Pitt. Sebastien was above all delighted that he did not have to force too much to make his motorcycle work properly..

His teammate Norick Abe, 19th despite the two seconds gained from his times last year, has still not managed to tame the course. "Last year I raced here for the first time. It was my worst race of the year and this time it wasn’t that great either", explains the Japanese:"maybe i don’t like this track"…

As a new applied student, Fabien Foret continued his training in the 1000cc category: "at the last tests in Valence, I had done good tests but I was not consistent. Here, I have set good times and they have been much more consistent", welcomes the Charentais.

"I now feel that I am riding a Superbike, no longer a Supersport and although I am not yet 100%, I am getting close", guarantees Fabien who was able to ride behind Yukio Kagayama and spot where he was losing the most time.

In 600cc, Broc Parkes won on a Yamaha R6 which he considers "impressive". The Australian found a front tire allowing him to express himself fully:"it was not available for the first races but personally now that I have it I can go !"Behind him ranks Zaiser – a Latvian on Ducati usually discreet -, Vizzielo of the Yamaha Italia team and Kevin Curtain, vice-world champion 2005 and great animator of the start of the season.

"There is no reward for pole position in testing, so I didn’t bother setting the fastest time. The important point was to move the whole bike forward and that’s what we did", indicates Kevin whose main opponent was absent.

Because the General Seb – who will release a new helmet in Valence – was not there: the opportunity for other French people to stand out a little better! Yoann Tiberio – who did not fall asleep on his Australian laurels – thus signed an impressive 8th fastest time ahead of David Checa of Team GMT 94 (9th) while Gregory Leblanc and Stephane Chambon placed 12th and 13th respectively..

Best times in Misano – Superbike tests

Pilot Team Best lap Tours
1 Bayliss T. Ducati Xerox 999F06 1 ‘33.317 143
2 Corser T. Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1 ‘33.824 140
3 Haga N. Yamaha Motor Italia 1 ‘33.870 111
4 Lanzi L. Ducati Xerox 999F06 1 ‘33.933 127
5 Walker C. Kawasaki Corsica 1 ‘33,984 117
6 Laconi R. Kawasaki Corsica 1 ‘34.085 145
7 Nieto F. Kawasaki Corsica 2 1 ‘34,181 130
8 Kagayama Y. Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1 ‘34,266 141
9 Xaus R. Sterilgarda Berik Ducati 999F05 1 ‘34.315 134
10 Pitt A. Yamaha Motor Italia 1 ‘34,469 122
11 Gimbert S. Yamaha Motor France – Ipone 1 ‘34.618 127
12 Drill F. Alstare Suzuki Eng. Corona Extra 1 ‘34.660 156
13 Barros A. Team Klaffi Honda 1 ‘34.683 141
14 Fabrizio M. D.F.X. Honda Treme 1 ‘34.852 156
15 Martin S. Foggy Petronas Racing FP1 1 ‘34,862 120
16 Iannuzzo V. Celani Team Suzuki Italia 1 ‘34.920 95
17 Neukirchner M. Pedercini Ducati 999RS 1 ‘35,254 117
18 Clementi I. Team Pedercini Ducati 999RS 1 ‘35.539 92
19 Abe N. Yamaha Motor France – Ipone 1 ‘35.574 164
20 Nakatomi S. Yamaha Motor France – Ipone 1 ‘35.684 162
21 Borciani M. Sterilgarda Berik Ducati 999F05 1 ‘35.699 90
22 Rolfo R. Ducati SC – Caracchi 999F05 1 ‘36,055 134
23 Jones C. Foggy Petronas Racing FP1 1 ‘36,153 147
24 Nannelli G. D.F.X. Treme Honda (Chile injured) 1 ‘36,172 37
25 Pedercini L. Pedercini Ducati 999RS 1 ‘36.664 89
26 Battaini F. Team Bertocchi Kawasaki 1 ‘37.085 125
27 Chile P. D.F.X. Honda Treme 1 ‘38.443 9

Best times in Misano – Supersport tests

Pilot Team Best lap Tours
1 Parkes B. Yamaha Motor Germany 1 ‘36.411 102
2 Zaiser C. LBR Ducati Racing 1 ‘36.507 94
3 Vizzielo G. Yamaha Team Italia 1 ‘36,892 120
4 Curtain K. Yamaha Motor Germany 1 ‘36.927 92
5 Fujiwara K. Honda Megabike 1 ‘37.339 87
6 Roccoli M. Yamaha Team Italia 1 ‘37.372 105
7 Nannelli G. Kropon Edo Racing Ducati 1 ‘37.483 79
8 Tiberio Y. Honda Megabike 1 ‘37.682 111
9 Checa D. Yamaha GMT 94 1 ‘37,745 107
10 Aldrovendi A. CRS Grand Prix Honda 1 ‘38.238 100
11 Sanchini M. RG Team Yamaha 1 ‘38.433 105
12 Leblanc G. Vazy Racing Team Honda 1 ‘38.553 144
13 Chambon S. Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki 1 ‘38.719 62
14 Brookes J. Team Manila Grace SC Ducati 1 ‘38.756 101
15 Tunstall T. Hardinge Ice Valley Mr. Honda 1 ‘38.775 140
16 Berger M. Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki 1 ‘39.214 112
17 Praia M. Team Parkalgar Honda 1 ‘39.385 123
18 Nedog L. Team Manila Grace SC Ducati 1 ‘39.585 79

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