From a press release issued by SBK International:

SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SBK Winter Test – Valencia 23 – 24 – 25 February 2002

Valencia, Ricardo Tormo Circuit

25 February 2002

The hot lap times matched the summery conditions at Valencia, with Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) scorching around the Valencian circuit in an astonishing 1:34.261, almost as fast as the all-time circuit motorcycle record of 1:34.070.

The existing official Superbike lap record of 1:36.128, set in race conditions, was simply demolished by the top 12 riders.

Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati), riding on Dunlops as opposed to Bayliss’ Michelins, was second quickest, with a personal best lap of 1:34.401 coming in the penultimate session.

Noriyuki Haga’s Aprilia was quick enough for the Japanese rider to leave the track third quickest overall, while Ruben Xaus, Bayliss’ Ducati Infostrada teammate, was the last of the fast four inside the 1:34 bracket.

2000 season World Champion Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) crashed trying to improve his best time in the final session, but was still fifth fastest.

Hitoyasu Izutsu proved the speed of man and Kawasaki Racing Team machine by moving up to sixth fastest overall, giving the four cylinder manufacturers a shot in the arm in the run up to the season proper.

Neil Hodgson took the top privateer slot despite feeling frustrated by his seventh-fastest time.
Gregorio Lavilla, the local favourite, was faster than the man he replaced in the Alstare Suzuki camp, Pierfrancesco Chili.

Lucio Pedercini, the third private Ducati rider in the top ten, performed excellently over all three days, and just edged James Toseland out into 11th.

Steve Martin (DFX Pirelli Ducati) could not improve on his times from day two but he did finish inside the lap record with a 1:35.962.

Twenty-five riders took part in Superbike the tests, but despite improving his time in the final day, Peter Goddard was disappointed to finish only 21st fastest on the factory Benelli.

Frenchman Fabien Foret was in unstoppable World Supersport form at Valencia, performing a similar job to Bayliss in a different class of racing.

The Ten Kate Honda rider waited right until the final session to set his magnificent 1:37.749 time, almost 1.3 seconds better than his previous pole position record of 1:39.061, obtained in 2001. It was also over two seconds faster than the previous fastest race lap, also set in 2001. The first four riders were all running Pirelli tyres, with the European Champion Alessio Corradi finishing second quickest thanks to his 1:38.069. Behind him came Foret’s teammate, Pere Riba, only 0.037 seconds slower than Corradi.

Yamaha rider Stefano Cruciani rounded out the Pirelli-supported top four, before Jörg Teuchert gave Dunlop and his Yamaha Motor Deutschland team fifth place on the time sheets, with James Whitham running in sixth in the dying seconds of the final session.

Piergiorgio Bontempi upheld Ducati’s honour, finishing 11th fastest on the NCR entered V-Twin.

SBK Press Office