Ducati's Italy test

Reigning World Champion Troy Bayliss completed his final test before heading to the opening round of the WSB championship in Qatar on 24th February. 

Onboard the Xerox Ducati 999 F07, Bayliss got his first taste of the Vallelunga circuit near Rome in Italy, which features on the WSB calendar for the first time in 2007.

Bayliss made the most of dry conditions on day one to post a 1m38.5s lap time, whilst team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi fought off the affects of Bronchitis to end the test just 1/10th slower than Bayliss. 

With no official WSB lap record for the track the only comparison that can be drawn is from Max Biaggi when he completed a three day test at the Rome circuit at the end of October 2006.

In what was only his second ride on a 2006 spec Alstare Suzuki, Biaggi posted a 1m 40.7 on day one before dipping into the mid 1m38’s on day three – a match for Bayliss’ lap time.

With just nine days until first qualifying for the Qatar race on Thursday 22nd February, Bayliss declared he was ready and acknowledged that it was a positive test despite the weather conditions. 

He said: “The most important thing for us was to actually come here because it’s the only place on the calendar that I haven’t seen. We were limited with laps due to the weather but considering the time I had yesterday we did a pretty good job, setting 38.5 a few times. 

“I went out in the rain as well, which was confidence-inspiring because it’s been a while since I’ve ridden in the rain. 

“I like the circuit because it’s got a bit of character about it, very up and down, and quite physical as well but I think it’ll make for a good race here.”