Superbike Testing - Misano

A two day test at Italy's Misano circuit in mid-April saw an Italian bike, appropriately enough, record the fastest time. The man who recorded that time on the factory Xerox Ducati F06 was Troy Bayliss, the Aussie continuing his early season race success with an unofficial lap record of 1 minute 33.317 seconds. This mark eclipsed the previous lap record from 2002, coincidentally also set by Bayliss.

Next best was Troy Corser (Alstare Corona Suzuki), just over half a second adrift of Bayliss, Noriyuki Haga making it three different manufacturers in the top three with a 1'33.870 on his Yamaha Italia R1.

"Everything went pretty good again today", Bayliss commented after the test session.
"I thought I could have dipped into the 32s, but it didn't quite happen. We left here in good spirits and now we move on to Valencia, which we're quietly confident about especially after the tests of a couple of weeks ago".

Chris Walker and Regis Laconi put their Kawasaki ZX-10Rs in fifth and sixth place respectively, whilst Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Italia R1) just snuck into the top ten, fellow Aussie Steve Martin (Foggy Petronas FP-1) fifteenth fastest. Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) was a disappointing thirteenth, while Pierfranceso Chili fractured his pelvis and two ribs on the first day of the test and will miss the next four races, his place in the DFX squad filled by Gianluca Nannelli. The World Supersport riders were also testing at Misano, Broc Parkes putting the Yamaha Germany R6 at the top of the time sheets with a 1'36.411, a new Supersport lap record for the circuit.

"The main difference for me today was the front tyre", Parkes commented. "that and getting to know the bike a lot better."

Parkes' team mate Kevin Curtain was fourth fastest, behind Zaiser (LBR Ducati) and Vizziello (Yamaha Italia). Josh Brookes (SC Caracchi Ducati) was fourteenth fastest.