Magny Cours World Superbikes: Toseland sets the pace

James Toseland made the perfect start to his Magny Cours weekend by securing top spot in the first Free Practice. Toseland started how he means to go on and was one of the first men on track and stayed in first position for the entire hour long session.

Second place went to another Honda rider Michel Fabrizio who got his DFX Honda dialled into the track early on to lap within 1/10th of Toseland. Since signing to ride the Xerox Ducati alongside Bayliss in 2008, Fabrizio has clearly upped his pace in preparation for next season.

Bayliss claimed third position after a slow start in what will be the Ducati 999’s final outing, with the bike being superseded by the all new 1098R in 2008.

Lorenzo Lanzi took an impressive fourth place, but it is too little, too late for the young Italian who is out off the factory Ducati team at the end of the weekend.

German Max Neukirchner showed what he is capable of onboard a factory bike by securing fifth place. Neukirchner is riding the Alstare Suzuki this weekend as a substitute for the injured Yukio Kagayama who has not recovered from his knee and hand injuries sustained at Brands Hatch and Lausitzring.

Noriyuki Haga who is still chasing his elusive first WSB crown finished in sixth place with Toseland’s main championship rival, Max Biaggi down in 13th spot.