BAYLISS BACK AT THE TOP FOR THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM IN QATAR TESTING Losail (Qatar), Tuesday 6 December: The Ducati Xerox Team has concluded its final test of the year at the Losail desert circuit in Qatar in superb form. After three days of intense testing, the two riders of the Italian team Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi have successfully laid the groundwork for the 2006 championship season. After testing next year’s ‘evolution’ race tyres yesterday, today the riders were provided with the latest generation of qualifying tyres. The considerable progress made by championship one-make supplier Pirelli, together with the latest generation of front and rear suspension units brought to Losail by Öhlins, allowed the two Ducati Xerox Team riders to conclude the tests with the first and third quickest times respectively. Despite the lack of a direct face-off between the two Australians due to Corser (Suzuki) missing the final day with a physical complaint, Bayliss demonstrated that he has lost none of his spectacular form from three years back, the Australian setting the quickest time of the test on race tyres, in 1m59.13s. Even more impressive was the time he recorded today on qualifying tyres, 1m58.60s, a full three seconds under the pole position mark set by Régis Laconi (Ducati Xerox) in last February’s race. “I’m very happy with the way things went here, we made progress every day” declared Troy. “I did a lot of laps and my wrist stood up well. I did a great time on qualifying tyres today but the best thing is the improvement made by the Pirelli race tyres since the start of the year. I did a full race simulation, with lots of laps in the 59s so things are looking good. I love working with the guys in the team, everything went really smoothly and now I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike again after the Christmas break”. Lorenzo Lanzi also improved on yesterday, the Italian joining the two Australians under the two minute barrier with a time of 1m59.40s. Lorenzo wrapped up his Qatar testing at the end of the morning as he was still feeling pain from his Sunday crash. “Today we went back to the first day’s settings after trying something different yesterday, and my lap times improved once again” commented Lorenzo. “I am quite pleased with my performance over the past three days, I went quicker day after day, but I have to admit that the crash on day 1 really left its mark. I was still feeling the effects today so we finished testing after lunchtime. However I feel that I have demonstrated that I am in good form and that for sure I can improve even more”. The Ducati Xerox Team will next be in track action at Valencia, on February 6/7 next year for its final winter test, two weeks before the start of the 2006 World Superbike Championship, which kicks off at the Losail circuit. OVERALL TIMES: 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1’58″60; 2. Corser (Suzuki) 1’59″17; 3. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1’59″40; 4. Toseland (Honda) 2’00″10; 5. Haga (Yamaha) 2’00″46; 6. Kagayama (Suzuki) 2’00″62; 7. Muggeridge (Honda) 2’00″68; 8. Pitt (Yamaha) 2’00″81; 9. Martin (Petronas) 2’01″80; 10. Jones (Petronas) 2’02″50. More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: MUGGERIDGE AND TOSELAND COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL QATAR TEST Winston Ten Kate Honda’s 2006 World Superbike championship pairing of Karl Muggeridge and James Toseland today completed a three-day test at the Losail circuit in Qatar in conjunction with tyre supplier Pirelli. The duo tested new components on the 2005 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in readiness for the 2006 version of the machine they will race in next season’s World Superbike championship, which opens in Qatar on 25 February. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “It’s been a very busy three days in which we have tested all the material that we wanted to try swingarms, linkage systems, engine parts, ignition and injection systems, front forks, etc. It took all of the first two days to get through everything, after which we concentrated on finding a good setting for the circuit. Until about mid-afternoon, we were hampered by chatter problems, which prevented either rider doing a very fast lap. However, both Karl and James are happy with the settings we’ve found and we’re definitely in the right ballpark. It’s been a very successful test to determine the direction that we head in next season because all the work was done with the 2005 bike. From now on, we’ll build up the 2006 version of the Fireblade and concentrate on what we have discovered here in Qatar. We have a few options for our next pre-season test but the circuit here is one of our favourites.” Karl Muggeridge best lap: 2m00.09s “Three days is a long test and I’m pretty tired. I spent seven days back in Australia before coming here and had five days of treatment on my back so I’m shaping up pretty good physically again now. We came across this chatter problem today for some reason and one or two other niggles made things a little frustrating, but we definitely made some progress over the first two days. We were going well today, too, but the sun just drops out of the sky at around 5.00pm so we just ran out of time really. We’ve learned a heap about the bike which we’ll be able to transfer to the 2006 machine so I think it would be a really good idea to come back here early next year to do some back-to-back comparisons.” James Toseland best lap: 2m00.8s “The chatter problem led us up against a brick wall for a while there but we found some new tyres from Pirelli that definitely helped. Everything was promising over the first two days as we got through the different parts we needed to test. We were able to do consistently fast laps but not one blistering one. To be honest, with the chatter problem, I feel I should have been about three seconds off the quick times rather than around one second, which is where I ended up. The different things we had to test made it a bit difficult to get into a rhythm and the chatter problem was a little frustrating. We tested a hell of a lot of stuff though, so we’re all confident that we know which way to go. It was good just to ride the bike for three solid days in good weather I did a lot of laps so I’m feeling pretty tired after it all. But I’m looking forward to getting the new bike, which is being launched by Honda here this week, and finding a good base setting for it.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY SECOND QUICKEST DESPITE MISSING FINAL DAY Troy was hoping to smash the 1:59 lap mark on the final day of the three-day test at Qatar but a stomach virus ruled him out of contention today. He came to the track hoping to ride in the afternoon, but was in obvious discomfort and so he and the team decided it would be safer not to ride. Troy had been the fastest rider over the first two days of the test, but his fellow countryman Troy Bayliss (Ducati) managed to post a time of 1:59.13 today – albeit on qualifying rubber. Third quickest overall was Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati), ahead of Karl Muggeridge (Honda), James Toseland (Honda), Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). TROY Well it was disappointing not to ride today, because I felt sure I could break the 1:59 barrier. But the tests went very well and we learnt a lot of positive things. We had some new Pirellis to try and they made a big difference to me. They are a significant improvement and they allowed me to lay the bike down in the turns instead of just putting it in there. Now I can feel what the bike is going to do and really use the tyre more. Also the bike felt more stable and I knew it was better all round because I was working harder! During the two days, I tried some new front forks, rear suspension and small bits and bobs – nothing dramatic – just little steps forward. I think I must have got the stomach virus from some water or food. Last night I felt really crook and had to call the doctor out because I was aching and paining and feeling sick. He gave me some different medicines and I certainly felt better today, but not really up to riding fast. So we called it a day. Troy (Bayliss) did go quicker in the end today, but he was on a qualifier, whereas all my times were done on race rubber, so I don’t feel too bad. Now there’s a bit of a gap before our next test in January and I’m looking forward to the break, spending time with my family and friends and being fully refreshed for next years’ attack. Overall results 1 Bayliss (Ducati) 1:58.66, 2 TROY CORSER (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:59.17, 3 Lanzi (Ducati) 1:59.40, 4 Muggeridge (Honda) 2:00.09, 5 Toseland (Honda) 2:00.10, 6 Kagayama (Suzuki) 2:00.38, 7 Haga (Yamaha) 2:00.46, 8 Pitt (Yamaha) 2:00.56, 9 Martin (Petronas) 2:01.80, 10 Jones (Petronas) 2:02.56 More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: BAYLISS THE FORM MAN IN QATAR – AUSSIE RIDERS LEAD THE WAY IN THE DESERT Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) continued his red hot re-entry into the SBK™ class with the best times in both race and qualifying trim, after three days of testing at Qatar. He set a best time of the test, 1’58.66, on Pirelli qualifying tyres, and a hugely impressive 1’59.13 in full race format. The pace at Qatar was much improved, as a new generation of tyres and an improved track surface took the best riders to new heights. In comparison to Bayliss’ 1’58.66 the best race qualifying time was 2’01.24, set by Troy Corser (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) back in February. Bayliss also did a full race simulation, despite any lingering effects of his comparatively recent forearm operation, and improved on the best 2005 Ducati race time (set by outgoing Ducati rider Regis Laconi) by fully 46 seconds. All Bayliss’s laps during this simulation were in the 1’59 bracket. New World Champion Corser showed that his best time on race rubber was only a fraction from Bayliss’ best with a similar set up, despite Corser having to sit out day three due to illness. He set a 1’59.17, before missing out on the final chance to go faster still. LANZI THIRD, HONDA MAN TOSELAND FOURTH Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) survived two crashes on the opening day to take third fastest time overall, with a 1’59.4, all despite pain and relative lack of mobility after his second high-speed off on Sunday. He was the last of the top riders to set a time inside the magic two minute mark, as Winston Ten Kate Honda rider James Toseland scored a 2’00.2, not resorting to qualifiers even on the last day. Toseland’s team-mate Karl Muggeridge set a 2’00.09, after achieving a best of 2’00.81 on race tyres. YAMAHA RIDER HAGA FIFTH In race trim, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) scored a best lap of 2’00.46, making him top Yamaha rider on show. His compatriot Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) went faster, once he had resorted to qualifying rubber, improving from 2’00.62 in race mode to 2’00.38. Haga’s team-mate Andrew Pitt set a 2’01 flat on race rubber, and gained almost half a second with qualifiers, thanks to a 2’00.56. PETRONAS PAIRING EASING IN Recuperating after a recent kidney operation, Steve Martin (Petronas FP-1) nonetheless set a 2.01.80 on his three-cylinder Petronas machine, while his new team-mate Craig Jones suffered from fever and stomach cramps, reducing his available track time and making his best lap a 2’02.5. NEXT STAGE The next Pirelli test for the top teams will be at Phillip Island, Australia, between 17 and 20 January. The 2006 SBK season kick off at Qatar, 23 to 25 February. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: World Superbike Champion Troy Corser and team-mate Yukio Kagayama have finished their three-day test in Qatar upbeat and looking forward to next season. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra squad didn’t have any radical revisions to this year’s World-beating GSX-R1000 but there were a host of modifications tried out and during the three days, Corser and Kagayama evaluated new front forks, a new rear shock, different brake discs and other development parts. The biggest improvements were new Pirelli tyres with Corser particularly taking to them immediately. Kagayama did not get the same positive feelings about the tyres initially mainly because of his different, more-aggressive riding style, but he was happy with the progress made during the tests. Corser was quickest over the first two days, smashing the 1:59 barrier, but suffered a stomach virus which forced him to sit out the final day. His time of 1:59.17 was only beaten by Troy Bayliss (Ducati) who used qualifying rubber. Third quickest overall was Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) with Kagayama sixth. Troy Corser: “Despite missing the final day, I feel the tests have gone very well for us. We had lots to try out – nothing major – and we gathered a lot of useful data throughout. For me, the biggest improvements were the tyres. I could feel what was happening much better than before and I could lay the bike into the turn far more easily. Also, the grip was better and I was working myself and the tyre much harder! I know Bayliss went quicker on the final day, but that was on qualifying rubber, whereas my best times were all done on race rubber. “I don’t know how I got sick, but I guess it must be some strange water or maybe salad that wasn’t washed properly. It’s been a long but wonderful season and I want to wish everybody a peaceful and happy holiday. I’m going to spend some time with my family and friends over the break and then be raring to go at the next tests in the New Year.” Yukio Kagayama: “I am not disappointed at all because we have done a lot of good work here during the three days. We tried many things including front forks, rear suspension, new discs and other small things. This is the same bike as we’ve raced all year with just some new pieces to evaluate. Troy-san was happier than me with the new tyre, but this was probably because our riding styles are so different! The weather has been perfect these three days and so I think we have achieved a lot and we should be very happy. “I am looking forward to some rest now back in Japan and seeing my family again. Next year will be great fun and I am looking forward to it already.” Overall results: 1 Bayliss (Ducati) 1:58.66, 2 Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:59.17, 3 Lanzi (Ducati) 1:59.40, 4 Muggeridge (Honda) 2:00.09, 5 Toseland (Honda) 2:00.10, 6 Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:00.38, 7 Haga (Yamaha) 2:00.46, 8 Pitt (Yamaha) 2:00.56, 9 Martin (Petronas) 2:01.80, 10 Jones (Petronas) 2:02.56.