Biaggi on race pace

Any doubts that Max Biaggi would take time to settle into WSB after a year out were firmly erased today, with the Italian in confident mood.

He set the standard by posting easily the most consistent lap times during first qualifying in Qatar today.

Although the Italian’s best lap was only good enough to place him in third spot he completed 11 laps of his 22 in the 1m 59s bracket.

His next closest rival to that that feat was pole man Nori Haga with six 1.59s in the one hour session. Out of the top men Bayliss managed five 59’s, Toseland and Corser – four, and Kagayama just three.

Biaggi’s Alstare crew chief Giacomo Guidotti said: “It’s been an encouraging first day.

“One reason for the amount of quick laps is that we tried a number of new rear tyres and I don’t know what the other teams used. 

“Now we are in the 59s getting to the 58s will be the difficult part and we have a lot of work to do.

“Max is now following his instinct on the bike and is riding how he wants so it is now our job to get the bike to come to him. 

“The new tyres are working well, but they have given us new problems. Like always we are always working on the chassis and trying to get the engine response smoother.”