World Superbikes: Troy Bayliss and Michael Fabrizio to miss Valencia test

Xerox Ducati men Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio will miss next weeks two day test at Valencia due to the injuries they sustained at Phillip Island.

The factory Xerox Ducati team have also sighted logistical difficulties of getting their motorcycles to Spain after being shipped back from Australia as a contributing factor in missing the test.

Troy Bayliss suffered a big high side during Saturday qualifying and had to have eight stitches in his left elbow, but showed no ill effects by taking the double win on Sunday.

His team-mate Michel Fabrizio survived a sickening start line crash when he failed to get his Xerox Ducati off the front row and was hit firstly by David Checa (Yamaha) and then sustained a massive impact from Kawasaki’s Vittiorio Iannuzzo.

In the collision with Iannuzzo, Fabrizio’s right leg took the bulk of the impact and his boot was ripped of his foot.

Incredibly the young Italian made the restart and secured a third place podium after intense battles with Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus.

The extent of Michel Fabrizio’s injuries has now been confirmed with contusions to his calf, but no broken bones.

He has been advised to rest so will next ride at Valencia for the race on April 6, 2008.

Another man who won’t be at either the Valencia test or race is Iannuzzo who had to be airlifted to Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with a broken and dislocated wrist endured in the impact with Fabrizio’s Ducati.

The Kawasaki man is expected to be out of action for up to three months. 

Carlos Checa left Phillip Island with a suspected broken toe following a crash at Lukey Heights on the first lap of the red flagged opening race.

Checa rode on despite the injury and claimed his first World Superbike podium in race two and is expected to be fully fit for the Valencia test.