World Superbikes Qatar test: Troy Corser fastest and promises more

Troy Corser topped the timesheets for the second day in succession with a stunning 1:58.6 lap set on Pirelli’s new generation race tyres.

Corser’s best was just out side his own Superbike outright lap record of 1:58.402 set in February using qualifying rubber.

Troy Corser’s day wasn’t without incident after the Australian got caught out with a new setting and crashed on his out lap at a data recorded 104mph when he lost the front.

The Yamaha rider has spent the opening two days testing his current 2007 bike along with a 2008 spec Yamaha R1.

Speaking to MCN, Troy Corser said: “I had a bit of a get-off today and banged my arm and back a bit, so I guess I may be a bit sore tonight. It happened when I just lost the front and down I went.

“The corner was a fast one, but the crash seemed to happen slowly. For a while I thought I’d better hold on to the bike with one hand, but when I hit the gravel trap and saw the size of the stones, I decided to let go of the bike and take my chances.

“The gravel trap here looks like gravel from a distance, but when you get up close it’s not gravel, they’re rocks! The crash was on the sort of new bike and I think I just got caught out.

“There’s not a whole heap of difference between the 2007 and 2008 bikes, but the chassis feels a bit different, a bit stiffer and it’s something I have to understand and then get on with.

“We tried some new tyres today and they worked better than what we’ve run here before and certainly the grip was better – especially in the morning.

“The tyres seem to work best in the morning and then towards the end of the day, but it’s almost impossible to go fast at the end of the day because the sun  is so low, that it’s in your eyes and you can’t see where you are going properly.

“It’s like looking at a glazed surface and you have to trust your instincts and just pitch the bike in.

“We’ve still got stuff to try tomorrow, so we’ll keep plugging away and get as much done as possible. We’re all pretty happy with how these two days have gone but, if I’m feeling in a good mood and the conditions are right, I think I can do a 1:57.”

In a repeat of yesterday, Troy Corser’s team-mate Noriyuki Haga claimed the second fastest time onboard his Yamaha with a 1:59.2 lap. Joint third went to a fast starting Carlos Checa onboard the Ten Kate Honda and Ducati’s Troy Bayliss riding the 1098 F08.

Fonsi Nieto improved his lap time on the Alstare Suzuki to take fifth with Ducati’s number two man Michel Fabrizio in sixth.

Kenan Sofuoglu ended his test prematurely after a huge crash after lunch, but still managed to slash his lap time by two seconds in the morning.

Yukio Kagayama placed himself seventh after working through a hectic testing which prevented him pushing for a fast time.

World Superbike Qatar test day two results:

1 Corser Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’58.6
2 Haga Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 1’59.2
3 Bayliss Ducati 1098R F08 Ducati Xerox / Checa Honda CBR1000RR Hanspree Ten Kate 1’59.5
5 Nieto Suzuki GSXR1000K7 Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1’59.6
6 Fabrizio Ducati 1098R F08 Ducati Xerox 2’00.1
7 Sofuoglu Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 2’00.3
8 Kagayama Suzuki GSXR1000K7 Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 2’00.9