Assen World Superbikes: Troy Bayliss fastest in practice despite injury

Troy Bayliss showed no ill effects of his cycling crash on Wednesday by finishing the opening free practice in first place onboard his Xerox Ducati.

Bayliss’ lap time of 1:40.499 is almost two seconds off the current lap record set by James Toseland last year, but the times are expected to improve as more rubber is put down on the track and the temperature increases.

Valencia race winner Noriyuki Haga showed that he is back to his best finishing second fastest.

German Max Neukirchner continued to impress by ending up in third place and top Suzuki.

Neukirchner is riding with a plated left collarbone following his final corner collision with Carlos Checa at Valencia three weeks ago.

Yukio Kagayama made it two Suzuki’s in the top four with Carlos Checa slipping down the leader board to fifth following crash at the first chicane at the end of the session.

Max Biaggi made a slow start to his weekend and ended up in 20th place. The Sterilgarda Ducati rider has recovered well from his broken wrist sustained at Phillip Island, but still only puts himself as 80 per cent for this weekend’s race.

Assen World Superbikes first practice results:

1 Troy BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’40.499
2 Noriyuki HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’40.688
3 Max NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’40.969
4 Yukio KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’41.003
5 Carlos CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.015
6 Troy CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’41.126
7 Karl MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.154
8 Fonsi NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’41.301
9 Lorenzo LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’41.336
10 Gregorio LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.383
11 Makoto TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’41.387
12 Ayrton BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’41.484
13 Jakub SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’41.485
14 Ruben XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’41.660
15 David CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’41.768
16  Regis LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’41.822
17 Kenan SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.870
18 Ryuichi KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.935
19 Michel FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’42.046
20 Max BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’42.143
21 Roberto ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1’42.352
22 Shinichi NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1’42.694
23 Arie VOS NED Fabricom – MCT Racing Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’42.698
24  Sebastien GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’42.926
25 Vittorio IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’44.386
26 Loic NAPOLEONE FRA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 1’44.876
27 Russel HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing – Bertocchi Honda CBR1000RR 1’44.911
28 Luca MORELLI ITA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.459
29 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’48.344