CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX TEAM) CONTINUES SUPERB FORM ON FIRST DAY OF SUPERBIKE TESTING AT VALENCIA Valencia (Spain), Monday 27 March: Troy Bayliss continued his superb run of form in this early part of the season when he set quickest time for the Ducati Xerox Team on the opening day of a three-day test in Valencia, Spain. The test, together with the subsequent one at Misano Adriatico on April 12/13, has been slotted into the calendar schedule after the opening two rounds of the series by FG Sport to enable all the Superbike teams to reach peak preparation in view of the remaining rounds of the 2006 series. Points leader Bayliss showed more of his recent race-winning form as he lapped the 4.005 km Ricardo Tormo circuit in 1m35.220s, set during the morning session, to head the timesheets on the first day of action. His time was a full eight-tenths of a second quicker than second-placed Troy Corser (Suzuki). Ducati Xerox team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi was in sixth position, but just three-tenths off the pace of Corser. “Everything went OK for me today” declared Bayliss. “The only problem is the track, which is slower than when we tested here in February because it’s a lot hotter and windier. Even though we don’t have anything major to test, I went well in the morning and was on the pace right away. Then in the afternoon the track was dirtier and I was unable to improve so we packed in half-an-hour before the end of the session.” “I am quite pleased with the way things went today” declared Lanzi. “We immediately found the right settings and I was one of the few riders who managed to lower their times in the afternoon session. There are still a couple more days left to improve but for the moment I’m pretty sure we’re going in the right direction”. TIMES: 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m35.220s; 2. Corser (Suzuki) 1m36.080s; 3. Barros (Honda) 1m36.292s; 4. Haga (Yamaha) 1m36.309s; 5. Muggeridge (Honda) 1m36.327s; 6. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1m36.360s; 7. Walker (Kawasaki) 1m36.420s; 8. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m36.725s; etc. More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing: Progress for FPR after day one of Spanish test Both Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders made strides forward during the first day of the official Superbike World Championship test at Valencia, Spain, today. Steve Martin finished the day 13th fastest out of the full World Superbike field, with a time of 1:37.07 which bettered his previous fastest at the circuit on the PETRONAS FP1, despite experiencing an engine failure towards the end of the first session which caused a spectacular high-side from which he escaped uninjured. Team-mate Craig Jones also made in-roads into his previous best time at the circuit as he gained further valuable track experience and set-up knowledge. The team were also able to compare a new engine development, featuring a new cam-shaft designed to improve the mid-range power spread, to that used at Phillip Island in the recent races. Troy Bayliss, who is leading the championship after the opening two races, set the pace once again with a time of 1:35.220. Steve, who was 10th fastest after the morning session, said: “I was lucky to get away with the crash but, although this may sound strange, I am glad that it happened in one respect. I haven’t really given my body a knock since my operation last year and it is good to get it over and done with and know that I am just as strong as I used to be. I have not been too worried about lap times as I only used two rear tyres in each session and I am sure I could have bettered my time if I had stuck a softer one in at the end. Our aim is to do consistent times on race times so that we can fully evaluate the different engine configurations. There is no doubt that the new camshaft provided more torque, but at the expense of top speed down the main straight. However, on race tyres, I was able to match my qualifying time from the race weekend last year, and was able to lap in the low 37s throughout the day.” Craig said: “I am reasonably pleased because, although I did not do any quick times today, we have made progress and have a direction to go in with the bike’s set-up. I have found a front end set-up that I quite like and a back-end set-up that I also quite like. It’s just a question of putting together the whole package now. I have gone a second quicker than when we tested here last year and we have got a game plan for tomorrow to reduce the times further.” First day times, Superbike World Championship official test, Valencia, Spain: 1 Bayliss 1:35.220; 2 Corser 1:36.080; 3 Barros 1:36.292; 4 Haga 1:36.309; 5 Muggeridge 1:36.327; 6 Lanzi 1:36.360; 7 Walker 1:36.450; 8 Kagayama 1:36.725; 9 Pitt 1:36.740; 10 Nieto 1:36.808; 13 Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:37.072; 28 Jones (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:40.226 More, from a press release issued by Team Klaffi Honda: Business as usual the first practice session on Monday morning went according to plan. Alex and the crew were busy to adjust the settings of his Klaffi Honda Fireblade. The Brazlian rider of Team Klaffi Honda did 33 laps. With a 1’37.109 lap time he was 11th fastest. In the afternoon the Superbike riders started for their second practice session at 16.oo. Two hours to do some faster lap times. But it was only Alex to succeed. He did a 1’36.292 lap time and finished third. Only Bayliss and Corser were faster than Alex. Team Manager Klaus Klaffenböck: “We had a very tough but successful day. It was only a pity that Alex had a small crash five minutes before the end of the second session. But he is okay and all things considered we are very pleased with the results.” Official Test at Valencia 27.03.2006 1 Bayliss T. Ducati 1’35.220 2 Corser T. Suzuki 1’36.080 3 Barros A. Klaffi Honda. 1’36.292 4 Haga N. Yamaha 1’36.309 5 Muggeridge K. Honda 1’36.327 6 Lanzi L. Ducati 1’36.360 7 Walker C. Kawasaki 1’36.450 8 Kagayama Y. Suzuki 1’36.725 9 Pitt A. Yamaha 1’36.740 10 Nieto F. Kawasaki 1’36.808 11 Barros A. Klaffi Honda 1’37.109 More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: FIRST DAY OF WORK AT THE RICARDO TORMO CIRCUIT IN VALENCIA Perfect weather welcomed the World Superbike Championship riders on the first day of testing at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia. A high of 30 degrees the air temperature were recorded, while the track reached just over 40 degrees, allowing the Winston Ten Kate Honda Team riders to take positive early steps. Two more days are still available for the four white and blue Winston Ten Kate Honda Team’s musketeers to improve and prepare their bikes for the third round of the Superbike World Championship programmed on April 23, also at Valencia. Ronald Ten Kate Winston Ten Kate Honda Team Manager “It’s good to be back racing in Europe even if we have already had some satisfying results in Qatar and Phillip Island. We are doing a good job around here, the weather conditions are similar to what we will expect at the end of April, therefore we are working well to find the right race set up. I am surprised for the times we have registered today because we still have two days to improve them. The start of the test is really good. I am quite impressed with what Kenan is doing so far on the track that he knows. We still have to test some different pieces and we’ll concentrate a lot on that. So we’ll see what happens tomorrow. Regarding the Superbike boys, I am very happy to see Karl back strongly in the top five, after the first two races in which he had some difficulties. He is improving step by step. With James, we are trying different parts and pieces but we still haven’t found the right setting. Here in Valencia the track situation is always strange because it changes so much from the morning to the afternoon and it hasn’t been easy to adjust the bike from one session to the other. But this is why it’s good to be here for the test, it is useful to learn more and more about the bike and about our riders’ preferences. I am quite sure we’ll be able to pick it up tomorrow.” James Toseland – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (11th position 61 laps Fastest lap 1’36.922) “Today didn’t go too well. We worked hard trying many solutions in our settings but we didn’t make any big progress. We are looking forward for the next two days of work to improve and reach a satisfying set up for the bike. I would simply like to forget about today and start over from tomorrow. I am sure we can be a lot quicker.” Karl Muggeridge – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (5th position 57 laps Fastest lap 1’36.327) “The first day has been pretty good for us. We made some adjustments to prepare our bike and results have come. The problems I had during the Australian races are mainly gone and I am positive about the work we will be able to do in the next couple of days. I fell during the afternoon session because I expected the front tyre I was trying to be a lot better, but I guess I pushed a bit too much and found myself on the ground. Not a big problem as that was a quite slow turn and luckily I didn’t hurt myself, which is the main thing.” Sebastien Charpentier WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (1st position 30 laps Fastest lap 1’37.877) “Today was OK. It is an important test because the temperature will be similar when we’ll be back here at the end of April for the third round of the championship. The bike is good, we made some changes compared to this morning and the bike went better. The problem at the end of the session was the traffic, which didn’t allow me to improve my best lap time. But this is not so important at the moment. It’s important to have a good set up of the bike in race configuration. The front of the bike is OK; tomorrow we’ll test some different parts to improve my feeling with the rear of the bike. I am satisfied about how the first day of testing went.” Kenan Sofuoglu WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (2nd position 38 laps Fastest lap 1’38.411) “I am very happy on how the day went because the last time I was on the bike in Australia I crashed and today I regained the feeling with it. Today I have already set some good lap times; I hope we can keep improving in the last two days. I am working hard to allow the Winston Ten Kate Honda Team to maintain, in every race, the first two positions. Right now it’s not so important for me to stay in front of Sebastien. Tomorrow we’ll try different setting and if we’ll have the time we may try a race simulation on the last day, to try to understand what we’ll be able to do in the race at the end of April.”