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World superbike champion, Taree's Troy Bayliss, has slashed more than a second off the superbike lap records at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit today, setting an unofficial 1m.30.7 second time aboard his Ducati 999 in today's third and final day of the Pirelli tyre test.
Bayliss's astonishing time set in the cool morning conditions on the 4.445 km island circuit was more than a second faster than the best outright lap on a superbike (1m31.9s) set by Bayliss in the morning warm up on race weekend last year. Furthermore, today's mark was more than 1.5 seconds faster than the best race lap set in 2006(1m32.402 Bayliss Ducati) and showed the 37 year old is raring to race for 2007 and more than ready to defend his second world title.
Yesterday (Sunday) in a full race simulation, Bayliss clocked a time 6.5 seconds faster than his "ideal" race time of 2006, putting the smiles on the faces of Bayliss and his Ducati team mates.
"All is going well at the moment but this year is going to be tougher than ever," said Bayliss at today's press conference.
"Everybody is riding well and the bikes are coming along good as well. I am under no illusions about how much work I'm going to put in but I'm happy with the way it's going and I'm getting into my rhythm. We have made a good start."
Despite able to take the number one plate as world champion, Bayliss said today he will campaign under his lucky "21" in 2007.
"I won't be running the number one on the bike this year. I have done that once before and it didn't go down too well. Everyone probably likes to see the number one on the bike, but I feel good riding with the number 21, and every time I've used it, it has been kind to me, so we'll give it another go this year - and next year as well," said Bayliss.
While Bayliss packed up and went home at lunch time today, his foes continued to toil in an afternoon of testing featuring higher temperatures and windier conditions.
His team mate, Lorenzo Lanzi, came closest to his new unofficial mark with a 1m31.2 second time in the morning session still half a second behind the blistering Bayliss. 2004 world champion, Britain's James Toseland, was third fastest for the day with a 1m31.7s mark on his Honda CBR 1000.
Wollongong's Troy Corser had plenty to do, working with his new team, Yamaha Motor Italia, trying to sort the new Yamaha R1 in readiness for the 2007 season that kicks off in six weeks.
Corser managed times in the low ‘32's, but could not crack the 1m31 barrier over the three day test let alone think about challenging Bayliss's 1m30.7. He could not adjust the swing arm angle on his bike, as the new R1 did not feature the arm as an adjustable part.
"It is quite frustrating, but hopefully we will have the adjustable part by Qatar's test in mid February. I am not getting the grip and acceleration that we are looking for from the tyres," said Corser.
"Whether I have a soft, hard, wet or intermediate tyre, I am doing the same lap time. I need to be able to fine tune the bike, so I am not getting the performance that we should have."
"The top speed and the engine feel is not so bad, but we are struggling a bit with rear grip coming out of corners. We are a bit too sideways. So the lap times are not coming for us at the moment."
"I'm pretty happy with the bike and the team is working well, but we just need a bit more testing, and this is only the second or third day of riding a Yamaha at Phillip and it was quite a bit different to ride from the Suzuki, but I'm enjoying it. You need to change your style a bit when you go jumping from machine to machine and that can work against you."
"Troy has been on a Ducati for most of his career, so he knows how to ride a Ducati. So for him it's second nature. For me, I'm learning again, jumping on something different. So it's taking me some time to get there," said Corser.
MotoGP's Max Biaggi, who took Corser's place on the Alstare Suzuki team at the end of 2006, was circulating in the low 32's, as was the Kawasaki duo of Regis Laconi and Fonsi Nieto. Suzuki's Yukio Kagayama on the Suzuki clocked a 1m32.7s best lap on day three.
Corser's team mate Noriyuki Haga was also concentrating on bike set up for the new Yamaha (1m33.1s) while new Honda recruit Roberto Rolfo, managed a best 1m33.2s lap.
Today was the third and final day of the official pre season Pirelli tyre test prior to the 2007 world superbike championship launching in Qatar on February 24 and heading down under for round two at Phillip Island from March 2-4.
Best time from all three days of testing (Jan 13-15 2007)
All times set on the final day unless stated
World Superbike
Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 1m30.7
Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) 1m31.2
James Toseland (Honda) 1m 31.7
Troy Corser (Yamaha) 1m32.2 (Day 2)
Regis Laconi (Kawasaki) 1m32.2
Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m32.3 (Day 2)
Fonsi Nieto (Kawasaki) 1m32.3
Max Biaggi (Suzuki) 1m32.4
Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) 1m32.8 (Day 2)
Roberto Rolfo (Honda) 1m33.2
Quotes from World Superbike riders at today's Media Conference
Troy Bayliss:
"All is going well at the moment but this year is going to be tougher than ever. Everybody is riding well and the bikes are coming along good as well. I am under no illusions about how much work I'm going to put in but I'm happy with the way it's going and I'm getting into my rhythm. We have made a good start. Winning the final MotoGP race last year was an incredible race for me. It was an incredible year and to finish it off like that was very special. It was good for all of us here in World Superbike; it just goes to show the level in our championship and all the rest of the riders here. It is possible that they could go there and do the same thing. I won't be running the number one on the bike this year. I have done that once before and it didn't go down too well. Everyone probably likes to see the number one on the bike, but I feel good riding with the number 21, and every time I've used it, it has been kind to me, so we'll give it another go this year - and next year as well."
Troy Corser:
"The top speed and the engine feel is not so bad, but we are struggling a bit with rear grip coming out of corners. We are a bit too sideways. So the lap times are not coming for us at the moment. I'm pretty happy with the bike and the team is working well, but we just need a bit more testing, and this is only the second or third day of riding a Yamaha at Phillip and it was quite a bit different to ride from the Suzuki, but I'm enjoying it. You need to change your style a bit when you go jumping from machine to machine and that can work against you. You do have to keep changing your style. Troy has been on a Ducati for most of his career, so he knows how to ride a Ducati. So for him it's second nature. For me, I'm learning again, jumping on something different. So it's taking me some time to get there."
Max Biaggi:
"Can I challenge for podiums from race one? I wish… That is one of our first goals. We don't have really the pace at this moment to fight with the other guys, I have never been challenging with these guys here and for sure they have a lot of experience on these motorcycles. I will of course try to fight for the podium even in race one, but I know it will not be easy, and they will not give you space to go in on the turns, but I will try my best. I am focused and determined, and I know my team feels the same. For me, after a year off, I am now on a Superbike. I can say that the machine is a lot different from what I am used to. I am not learning a different machine I am just learning the ambience. The way of riding is not so close to MotoGP or 250. It was a big surprise to me to go to the first test at Valencia and set one of the fastest times there. The package that I have is quite OK, it's good, and the team are working very hard for sure to win races. I know the Japanese are putting in a lot of effort. Every time we go back on track we have something to test - something to try. Not all the time it gets better, but you always get some information. I like the system and I am very pleased with it."
"I think Phillip Island is a great track and every time I come back here I remember that a rider who can go fast here, can challenge a track. When I was riding 250 and 500 I was in the top two or two three. You can see who the riders are. Of course, in Superbike the tyres are the same for everyone, so it doesn't make that gap. I am happy to come here; it gives me a great emotion. Last year was difficult for me of course, because in previous times I had always done the same things, racing in the same category, so be out of it, to be away, I found a lot of time. I trained a lot, spent some time in the United States, and in my mind I wanted to find a way back, in MotoGP or Superbike, or Supermoto, whatever. My goal was to go back to racing and finally I got this shot with Corona Suzuki."
Fonsi Nieto:
"Our bike is largely the same as last year but every test it is getting better and better. We have new suspension here and at the last test, different from last year, and it is working well. Every test we are nearer the strongest guys and we hope to fight for the podiums. Honestly, a two rider team is much better for us, for the team, we can work more clearly as a team. It makes things easier, and for sure it is much better."
James Toseland:
"The test has been good for us, we've just been fine tuning things and we've gone a second and a half faster than we did in the race last year. If it keeps on going like that then I'll be happy. The Honda's engine is stronger in a few places on the track than the Ducati, but the Ducati is very good at using what it's got. Sometimes for us, when the temperature goes up, the grip is not so good and I can't use all the power that I have; I am sideways quite a bit. We have been working on the electronics and the traction control to improve that. We didn't have the electronics last year and it may have been exciting to watch but as far as the lap times were concerned it was not so good."
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