FIM Superbike World Championship Vallelunga, Italy September 19, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires): 1. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:50.595, crashed twice 2. Ruben XAUS (Ducati 1098 RS08), 1:50.879 3. Troy BAYLISS (Ducati 1098 F08), 1:51.146 4. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:51.228 5. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:51.419 6. Gregorio LAVILLA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:52.012 7. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:52.143 8. Roberto ROLFO (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:52.407 9. Regis LACONI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:52.463 10. Chris WALKER (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:52.466 11. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:52.507 12. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:52.640 13. Lorenzo LANZI (Ducati 1098 RS08), 1:52.649 14. Fonsi NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:52.719 15. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098 RS08), 1:52.738 16. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F08), 1:52.865 17. Max BIAGGI (Ducati 1098 RS08), 1:53.013 18. Ayrton BADOVINI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:53.231 19. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:53.336, crash 20. David CHECA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:53.374 21. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:53.464 22. Matt LYNN (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:55.688, crash 23. Christian ZAISER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:56.583, crash 24. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:57.138, crash 25. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:57.364 26. Shuhei AOYAMA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:58.142 27. Matej SMRZ (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:59.096 28. Makoto TAMADA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), no time recorded, crashed twice More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: QUALIFYING 1 REPORT – 19/09/2008 Haga fastest as Yamaha riders shine Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) set the fastest time of the first wet qualifying session at Vallelunga. In a great team display Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) went fourth fastest, despite the atrocious track conditions. Haga also fell at high speed in the timed session, on a part of the track where many riders also ran off the track or crashed. Corser came close to falling at the same spot, but saved his potential high-side before coming into the pits to finish his session with a top four time. The second day of qualifying, which will culminate as usual with Superpole, is expected to be run in dry conditions, which will allow the team to get back to the kind of settings they used in the summer test at Vallelunga in July. David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) went 20th, one place up on his team-mate Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94). Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) was 24th from 27 entrants. Noriyuki Haga (1st – 1’50.595 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “We set the fastest time so we can be very happy with that but the rain made things much more complicated for us, and everyone else as well. I fell hard on the part of the track that flicks left before the back straight, and the bike landed on my head at one stage. I was surprised because I had found more feel with the back tyre grip through the session, and when the back tyre went it felt the same way as it does when you hit oil. No warning, no slide, just gone. But we set the fastest time, even though I also fell earlier in that same session, when I lost the front. I would be happy if tomorrow it is not raining!” Troy Corser (4th – 1’51.228 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “Today it was just a case of getting through the day, no crashes and find a bit of a set-up, just in case we need it tomorrow. The track itself is not too bad when it is not actually raining. In those conditions there is some kind of grip, but it’s just a bit greasy in a few places. As soon as it starts to rain the water starts building up, especially in the new surface where Nori fell. The water is not running off, so it’s like a pond. Through the back kink you could not see the edges of the track. It would have been nice to get some nice dry track set-up, but we have a good set-up from the test we did here in the summer anyway.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “today went well apart from the big Nori crash. Even though we effectively lost a day’s set up because of the rain today as we tested here in the dry in July we are confident we have a good base set up to go into the weekend with. Considering the weather on track we are very happy with our riders who both qualified well.” Qualifying 1 Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time 1, Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, JPN, 1’50.595 2, Ruben Xaus, Ducati, ESP, 1’50.879 3, Troy Bayliss, Ducati, AUS, 1’51.146 4, Troy Corser, Yamaha, AUS, 1’51.228 5, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, JPN, 1’51.419 6, Gregorio Lavilla, Honda, ESP, 1’52.012 7, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 1’52.143 8, Roberto Rolfo, Honda, ITA, 1’52.407 9, Regis Laconi, Kawasaki, FRA, 1’52.463 10, Chris Walker, Honda, GBR, 1’52.466 11, Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, JPN, 1’52.507 12, Kenan Sofuoglu, Honda, TUR, 1’52.640 13, Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati, ITA, 1’52.649 14, Fonsi Nieto, Suzuki, ESP, 1’52.719 15, Jakub Smrz, Ducati, CZE, 1’52.738 16, Michel Fabrizio, Ducati, ITA, 1’52.865 17, Max Biaggi, Ducati, ITA, 1’53.018 18, Ayrton Badovini, Kawasaki, ITA, 1’53.231 19, Max Neukirchner, Suzuki, GER, 1’53.336 20, David Checa, Yamaha, ESP, 1’53.374 21, Sebastien Gimbert, Yamaha, FRA, 1’53.464 22, Matt Lynn, Honda, USA, 1’55.688 23, Christian Zaiser, Yamaha, AUT, 1’56.583 24, Shinichi Nakatomi, Yamaha, JPN, 1’57.138 25, Vittorio Iannuzzo, Kawasaki, ITA, 1’57.364 26, Shuhei Aoyama, Honda, JPN, 1’58.142 27, Matej Smrz, Honda, CZE, 1’59.096 ———- QUALIFYING 1 REPORT – 19/09/2008 Wet weather welcomes Yamaha riders to Rome Inclement weather was the backdrop of yet another opening day of WSS qualifying, as Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) and Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Supersport Team) made their first qualifying times at Vallelunga. Laverty set the 12th fastest time of the session relatively early, while Parkes built up confidence and speed to go 14th, despite the rain falling more heavily. With the rest of the race weekend expected to be fully dry, warm and sunny, the team hopes to be able to move from a machine set-up based on their recent wet weather experiences at Donington to the strong base set-up they found in official tests at Vallelunga in July. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) was only 17th fastest due to the rainy conditions and an early fall, while David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) went 31st. His team-mate Jason Crowe (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) was 27th. Eugene Laverty (12th – 1’57.315 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “I was happy with the set-up in the wet and I set a quick time early on. Then it started hammering with rain and I didn’t want to push too much. I should be dry tomorrow so I just wanted to set a decent time and find a good wet set-up just in case it is wet again. 12th position doesn’t matter so much right now, because it should be dry and hopefully I will get some dry track time tomorrow before the second qualifying session. I just need some dry time on this bike! My injured foot caused me a bit of a problem in the morning but this afternoon we made some adjustments to my boot and now it is OK.” Broc Parkes (14th – 1’57.534 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “Today was OK. After Donington where we didn’t do so well in the rain I had a lot better feeling with the bike here. It started to rain a lot harder near the end of the session but that’s when I did my best lap, which shows we made progress. It will be dry tomorrow, so we will be looking forward to that. We have good dry information from our test here in the summer so it will be good to put that into action.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team) “It was interesting for us to see how we were doing after Donington, because we struggled there in the rain. Now it is good, even if we are not in the top of the times, but we have been able to handle the wet weather much better. Eugene is not 100% fit of course but he did well and Broc has shown that he is getting a bit of feel on a wet set-up. Tomorrow is going to be dry but the guys stayed out just to get a little bit of information on tyres and in the rain, but they didn’t push or force too much.” Massimo Roccoli (22nd – 1’58.386 seconds – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “I started the weekend here without much confidence in the wet and I fell in the morning session, when I lost the front. So in the afternoon I did not push too hard, partly because the weather is almost certain to be better tomorrow and on raceday, and partly because I did not want to have another fall.” Qualifying 1 Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time 1, Matthieu Lagrive, Honda, FRA, 1’54.362 2, Jonathan Rea, Honda, GBR, 1’55.427 3, Gianluca Nannelli, Honda, ITA, 1’55.858 4, Joshua Brookes, Honda, AUS, 1’55.954 5, Chris Martin, Kawasaki, GBR, 1’55.957 6, Barry Veneman, Suzuki, NED, 1’55.996 7, Mark Aitchinson, Triumph, AUS, 1’56.268 8, Joan Lascorz, Honda, ESP, 1’56.324 9, Didier Van Keymeulen, Suzuki, BEL, 1’56.329 10, Ivan Clementi, Triumph, ITA, 1’56.952 11, Terence Toti, Suzuki, ITA, 1’56.960 12, Eugene Laverty, Yamaha, GBR, 1’57.315 13, Josh Hayes, Honda, USA, 1’57.382 14, Broc Parkes, Yamaha, AUS, 1’57.534 15, Andrew Pitt, Honda, AUS, 1’57.607 16, Graeme Gowland, Honda, GBR, 1’57.763 17, Robbin Harms, Honda, DNK, 1’57.775 18, Balazs Nemeth, Honda, HUN, 1’57.785 19, Gianluca Vizziello, Honda, ITA, 1’57.931 20, Alex Cudlin, Triumph, AUS, 1’58.286 21, Lorenzo Alfonsi, Honda, ITA, 1’58.286 22, Massimo Roccoli, Yamaha, ITA, 1’58.386 23, Miguel Praia, Honda, POR, 1’58.800 24, Jesco Gunther, Triumph, GER, 1’59.173 25, Andrea Zappa, Triumph, ITA, 1’59.216 26, Katsuaki Fujiwara, Kawasaki, JPN, 1’59.437 27, Jeremy Crowe, Yamaha, AUS, 1’59.684 28, Denis Sacchetti, Honda, ITA, 2’1.137 29, Russell Holland, Honda, AUS, 2’1.479 30, Danilo Dell’omo, Honda, ITA, 2’1.671 31, David Salom, Yamaha, ESP, 2’1.701 32, Giuseppe Barone, Honda, ITA, 2’4.998 33, Patrick Vostarek, Honda, ITA, 2’6.615 More, from a press release issued by FGSport: 2008 HANNSPREE FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® VALLELUNGA 19th, 20th and 21 th SEPTEMBER ROUND 12 FIRST QUALIFYING PRACTICE Vallelunga, Friday 19th September 2008 Haga powers to quickest time in wet Vallelunga WSBK qualifying Yamaha Motor Italia WSB rider Noriyuki slithered to the quickest time in today’s first qualifying session at Vallelunga as a wet track and rain greeted the WSBK regulars on their second visit to the circuit. The Japanese rider stopped the clocks with a time of 1 minute 50.595 seconds despite two crashes. The only other rider to lap under the 1.51″ mark was Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) in second place, while the provisional front row was completed by points leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) and the other Yamaha of Troy Corser. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) continued his positive run of form with fifth place despite a crash in the morning’s free practice. The Donington winner was followed by two more Hondas of Gregorio Lavilla (VentAxia VK) and Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate). Kawasaki were once again back in the top 10 thanks to Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Corse), who looked particularly at ease on the wet surface. Local riders Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) both failed to shine at their home track, finishing in sixteenth and seventeenth place respectively, while Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) was also unable to get to grips with the slippery Vallelunga track. Guandalini Ducati’s Jakub Smrz, fifteenth, has been joined in Superbike by his younger brother Matej, who replaces the injured Luca Morelli in the DF Racing team. Today’s wet weather action was characterized by 11 crashes involving ten different riders. Times: 1. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1’50.595; 2. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’50.879; 3. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1’51.146; 4. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1’51.228; 5. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.419; 6. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.012; 7. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.143; 8. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.407; 9. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’52.463; 10. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.466; 11. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’52.507; 12. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.640; 13. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’52.649; 14. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’52.719; 15. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’52.738; 16. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1’52.865. FIM Supersport World Championship Honda dominated the first day of qualifying in the Supersport category, with four riders on CBR machines making up the provisional front row. In the pouring rain, Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Czech) made all the difference, the Frenchman the only man under the 1 minute 55 second mark today. Lagrive was way quicker than his rivals, leaving Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) second over 1″ behind. The front row was completed by Italian Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Honda Althea) and Donington winner Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda). The poor weather conditions led several riders, in particular championship leader Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport), not to take any risks and the two Australians are down on row 4, while others like British rider Chris Martin (Kawasaki Gil Motorsport) in fifth and Italian wild-card Terence Toti (Celani Suzuki) in eleventh, went well. Another Czech rider has moved up a category this weekend, Patrick Vostarek (Intermoto Czech Honda), second in the European 600 Superstock championship, but he has so far has failed to qualify. Times: 1. Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’54.362; 2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’55.427; 3. Nannelli G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’55.858; 4. Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’55.954; 5. Martin C. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’55.957; 6. Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1’55.996; 7. Aitchison M. (AUS) Triumph 675 1’56.268; 8. Lascorz J. (ESP) Honda CBR600RR 1’56.324. On TV: Eurosport (pan-European) Saturday 20 September, 1900 Superpole (delayed); Sunday 21 September, 1300 Supersport (live), 1400 Race 1 (delayed), 1945 Race 2 (delayed). More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: World Superbike Championship round 12 Vallelunga, Italy 19 September 2008 With the rest of the weekend forecast to be dry, persistent rain eliminated the chance of any meaningful track time in today’s opening action for round 12 of the 2008 World Superbike championship at Vallelunga in Italy. HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari was fifth fastest today, following his recent good form and spectacular victory in the rain at Donington Park two weeks ago. His team-mates, Carlos Checa and Kenan Sofuoglu, sit in seventh and 12th places respectively on the provisional grid as Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga set the pace. Ryuichi Kiyonari P5, 1m51.419s Today was just a bit of practice in the wet and the only thing we learned was that the track was very slippery, especially at the back of the fast opening section. I made a silly mistake and crashed this morning, but it was very difficult to get any feeling for what the front of the bike was doing. This afternoon it was even wetter and very dangerous there was just too much water on the track and it wasn’t going anywhere. We’ll start again tomorrow. Carlos Checa P7, 1m52.143s We tested a bit for the wet today to get a feeling for the bike and the track. But we didn’t want to take any risks knowing that tomorrow and Sunday should be dry. On this track you spend a lot of time changing direction under acceleration and it’s very difficult in those conditions. The time we needed to plan for a dry race was lost today, but it’s the same for everyone. It just means we have lots of work to do tomorrow. Kenan Sofuoglu P12, 1m52.640s I was fourth in practice this morning but I couldn’t improve my time this afternoon. This was because the rain got even worse and the cold and damp affected my shoulder, which is still a little sore after the crash at Donington. Anyway, tomorrow is supposed to be dry so we will see how things are in the morning. Ronald ten Kate team manager All three riders are in provisional Superpole positions, so that’s a positive. But, to be honest, today is a day we can easily leave behind since tomorrow and Sunday will be dry. Results World Superbike first qualifying: 1 N Haga (Yamaha) 1m50.595s 2 R Xaus (Ducati) 1m50.879s 3 T Bayliss (Ducati) 1m44.377 5 R Kiyonari (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 1m51.419s 7 C Checa (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 1m52.143s 12 K Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 1m52.640s More, from a press release issued by Sterilgarda Go Eleven: Vallelunga, day-1 WSBK’08 Round 12 Rain has stuck again on the first day of qualifying at Vallelunga, 12th round of the World Superbike Championship. Nevertheless a better weather is expected for tomorrow and Sunday; so the hard work made today by Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus under a tight rain will not help the riders with the second session and the two race. The Spanish felt immediately at ease, recording the second best time of the qualifying, while his team-mate Biaggi preferred to set tomorrow as the day for a great show in front of his followers which are expected to be in large numbers on the terraces of the “Piero Taruffi” track. MAX BIAGGI | Ducati 1098 RS | 17th provisional time in 1’53.013: “I could expect everything but this weather at Vallelunga. Today has no meaning for the starting grid battle since tomorrow better conditions are forecasted”. RUBEN XAUS | Ducati 1098 RS | 2nd provisional time in 1’50.879: “Although I’m not at the top I lapped pretty quick without pushing excessively. As well we have worked on fine tuning the new clutches also thanks to the technical support of Bucci factory”. More, from a press release issued by Ducati Xerox: Friday Sep 19 2008 Qualifying – Vallelunga A WET FIRST DAY AT VALLELUNGA FOR THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM Vallelunga (Italy), Friday 19th September 2008: after spending four days in the rain at Donington just two weeks ago, the Ducati Xerox Team were not expecting to face similar conditions here at Vallelunga. Two wet sessions left factory riders Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio in third and sixteenth place respectively at the end of today’s first qualifying. The rain intensified mid-way through the afternoon qualifying session, meaning that nearly all riders spent a good part of the session confined to the garage. Troy, who had recorded the third fastest time earlier in the session, decided not to go back out on track. Team-mate Michel exited for the final time just minutes before the end of the session but unfortunately the track conditions prevented him from improving on his lap times. As the weather is likely to improve tomorrow, the Ducati Xerox team will start over in the morning, positive that they will improve performance throughout the weekend. Troy Bayliss 1m51.1s “It doesn’t feel like we’re at Vallelunga to be honest, as all the test sessions we’ve done here in the past have been in hot, sunny conditions and now we’ve had rain all day today. It’s rained solidly but at least we had good settings from the last wet weekend in Donington so it’s gone ok for us. Tomorrow it is supposed to be sunny again so we hope that’s the case and that we can have a positive, and dry, weekend. I’m feeling comfortable on the bike and so the plan is to do two good races on Sunday, take some solid points and see what the situation is at the end of the weekend .” Michel Fabrizio 1m52.8s “The problem this afternoon was that just as I was starting to pick up pace it started to rain more heavily, meaning I had to come back into the garage. I didn’t get another chance to improve my times after that as the rain continued. There were certain points of the track where I was sliding a lot, a lack of grip that meant I was losing the rear. Anyway, they are saying that tomorrow should be sunny again so I’m hopeful that that’s the case and me and team will start afresh, improving on today’s performance.” TIMES: 1. Haga (Yamaha) 1m50.5s; 2. Xaus (Ducati) 1m50.8s; 3. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m51.1s; 4. Corser (Yamaha) 1m51.2s; 5. Kiyonari (Honda) 1m51.4s; Lavilla (Honda) 1m52.0s…. 16. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m52.8s More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: No emotions and no results for team Pedercini after the first day of qualifying at Vallelunga, 12th round of the World Superbike Championship. The riders was forced by the bad weather to spend most of the time at the pits and they were able to run just few laps. Badovini and Iannuzzo chose wisely to avoid tumbles and slips in order to give their best tomorrow when a better weather is expected. They finished the first timed session respectively in 18th and 25th provisional position. AYRTON BADOVINI | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 18th provisional time in 1’53.231: “I rode the motorbike for just seven laps during the timed session but honestly I did not feel to take any chance under this weather”. VITTORIO IANNUZZO | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 25th provisional time in 1’57.364: “I spent the session seeking some feeling with the track and testing some components. Tomorrow I’ll try to get a good position on the starting grid on my home-track”. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Atrocious conditions at today’s 12th-round World Superbike Championship first day of qualifying in Vallelunga in Italy hindered Team Suzuki Alstare riders Fonsi Nieto, Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner. Kagayama was the best rider in 11th, Nieto was 14th and series top rider Neukirchner an uncharacteristic 19th. The rain started in the morning and became heavier throughout the day and resulted in many crashes, including two from Neukirchner. Fortunately the young German was not injured and he, like all the riders, is hoping for an improvement in the conditions tomorrow. Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) topped the standings today with Ruben Xaus (Ducati) second, Troy Bayliss (Ducati) third and Troy Corser (Yamaha) fourth. Yukio Kagayama – 11th, 1:52.507: “Today the track was very slippery and although my feeling for the track is better than Donington, it is not prefect yet. This track is a bit strange because there are two different parts with different surfaces. Funnily enough, the older part has the better grip than the newer part. The new section had a lot of standing water in many places this afternoon and there it was impossible to see the track because you can only see water! I hope the conditions are better tomorrow.” Fonsi Nieto – 14th, 1:52.719: “We started with our wet set-up from Donington and made some changes to the mapping and other small changes. I feel I have more grip here than I had in Donington because there I could hardly lean the bike over. There is a lot of standing water round this track, particularly in the last corner, and it’s difficult to see exactly where the track is. Like everybody else, I am hoping for better weather tomorrow.” Max Neukirchner – 19th, 1:53.336: “This is a difficult place because there are two different track surfaces and the grip level is different in both of them. For me, the older section has better grip than the newer part, but there are some places on the track where there is so much water you cannot see the surface at all. I had two crashes today, but no injury, so it’s no big thing at all. The first crash happened when the rear end just suddenly came round without any warning and I fell. The second was because there was just too much standing water and I hit it and crashed. It was quite easy to do!” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY SPLASHES TO FOURTH IN FIRST QUALIFYING. Torrential rain lashed the Vallelunga circuit throughout free practice and the first qualifying session today and there were many crashes in the appalling conditions. Troy kept his head and rode steadily, but still managed to post the fourth quickest time in the afternoon qualifying session. His Yamaha Motor Italia team mate Noriyuki Haga set the day’s fastest time, with a lap of 1:50.595, with Ruben Xaus (Ducati) second and Troy Bayliss (Ducati) third. Troy – 4th, 1:51.228 In the afternoon there was a lot of standing water in various parts of the track and it was easy to aquaplane, so I decided to stop before the end of the session instead of risking crashing. The water was really deep in places and it was difficult to see where you were going and that isn’t a good feeling. I asked one of the FIM guys if the session could be stopped and we could have an extra fifteen minutes tomorrow but was told that it wasn’t compulsory to go out and so don’t go out! There are two different parts of the track here – the new surface and the old surface. The old part has better grip, probably because the water disperses better, whereas the water doesn’t seem to go away in the new part. The last chicane was very slippery and it would’ve been so easy to crash there, so I took it a bit steady in that area. The grip level is better here than Donington, but you still have to feel the track and understand the differences between the new and old parts. The weather forecast is for better conditions tomorrow and I hope that is the case.