WSB Phillip Island: Bayliss stays in control at Phillip Island

Troy Bayliss stayed at the top of the time sheets on day two of the official Pirelli WSB test at Phillip Island after taking a further 0.3 seconds off his day one best.

The 38 year old Australian completed a massive 99 laps where he continued to experiment with suspension setting in an effort to improve the rear end feeling of his Ducati 1098 F08.

Although Bayliss has set the pace on both days his best lap is still 0.4 seconds outside Troy Corser’s 2007 lap record and a massive 1.5 seconds slower than his personal best lap set in testing 12 months ago onboard the Ducati 999.

Second spot went to a resurgent Yukio Kagayama who backed up his day one performance with a 1m 32.3 second lap. Onboard his Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000 the Japanese star completed 78 laps and worked on the set-up of his advanced electronics in an effort to improve power delivery and engine braking.

Noriyuki Haga had another good day with the third fastest time after working his way through Pirelli’s development rubber. Italian Michel Fabrizio put in a strong performance on his Xerox Ducati 1098 F08 to set the fourth fastest time. Fabrizio continued his impressive switch to the new Ducati and showed no ill affects of his day one crash at Lukey Heights.

Troy Corser improved his day one lap time but still ended up joint fifth fastest, half a second off Bayliss’ best. Corser worked on tyre development and suspension settings to cope with the track that has become significantly bumpier since WSB raced here in March 2007.

Spaniard Ruben Xaus matched Corser’s lap time and looked comfortable on his Ducati despite not having access to Pirelli’s development rubber as he is not one of Pirelli’s official development riders. Xaus’ team-mate Max Biaggi was a further 0.2 seconds back using non development rubber but is beginning to look comfortable on the bike despite a trip on to the grass at MG corner this morning.

Fonsi Nieto and Regis Laconi both set a 1m 33.0 second lap whilst Kawasaki new recruit Makoto Tamada ended the second day well off the pace with a 1m 35.5.

Troy Bayliss – 1m 32.2
Yukio Kagayama – 1m 32.3
Noriyuki Haga – 1m 32.4
Michel Fabrizio – 1m 32.6
Ruben Xaus – 1m 32.7
Troy Corser – 1m 32.7
Max Biaggi – 1m 32.9
Regis Laconi – 1m 33.0
Fonsi Nieto – 1m 33.0
Makoto Tamada – 1m 35.5