Toseland tops Superpole times

James Toseland recorded a new best lap at Assen in the Superbike class to claim pole for the World Superbike round on Sunday, with a time of 1:38.603.

It's Toseland's first pole position of the year, and only the third of his career, putting the Brit on the grid next to Lorenzo Lanzi, Troy Bayliss, and Max Biaggi, who moved up from 12th in final qualifying to fourth on the grid after Superpole.

Ruben Xaus will start from fifth, ahead of Troy Corser, Max Neukirchner and the recovering Yukio Kagayama who was 16th before Superpole, and eighth after it. Ninth is Karl Muggeridge from Fonsi Nieto, Roberto Rolfo and Jakub Smrz.

The fourth row is Regis Laconi, Josh Brookes, and surprisngly Noriyuki Haga who was lucky to complete his Superpole lap after almost crashing, followed by Michel Fabrizio.

First track test for Ducati's 1200 version of 1098

The Ducati World Superbike squad have completed their first test on the 1200cc version of the 1098 they intend to race in 2008.

Eighteen-year-old Domenico Colucci, who currently rides for the Xerox Ducati Junior team on a Ducati 749 in the Superstock 600 class, completed the first shake down test on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Mugello.

The young Italian completed more than 600 miles during the three days onboard the up rated Superstock machine, complete with a 1200cc motor and a host of Superbike chassis components including top spec suspension.

The test comes at a very sensitive time within the WSB paddock where teams and organisers are still debating the future of the championship and the proposed rule change to allow 1200cc twins into the series.

Despite the uncertainty as to whether the bike will even be allowed to race in WSB and in what guise, Ducati are working flat out on their development programme. It is believed test rider, Colucci will be involved in initial shake down testing and as the bike develops.

Ducati could also bring in other riders including their Superstock 1000 team of Brendan Roberts and Niccolo Canepa before putting Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi on the bike as it approaches the final version. The next test for the new bike is scheduled for mid June, 2007.

Toseland triumphs in Valenica race two

James Toseland took a hard-fought victory in the second race at Valencia to triumph over Max Biaggi by 0.287.

The top six places were close together for much of the race, until the top three of Toseland, Biaggi and Noriyuki Haga were able to pull away, with Haga taking third after being demoted by Max Biaggi on the last lap.

Ruben Xaus continued a good weekend with fourth from the works Ducatis of Lorenzo Lanzi and Troy Bayliss. Josh Brookes was seventh from Regis Laconi, Troy Corser and Max Neukirchner.

Xaus takes WSB win at Valencia

Ruben Xaus took his first win since 2003 in race on at Valencia, triumphing in changing conditions.

The Spaniard was in fifth away from the line but battled his way through to take the win from Noriyuki Haga, with Troy Bayliss third. Troy Corser will be disapointed with fourth having led at the start of the race.

Britain's James Toseland was fifth from Lorenzo Lanzi, with Michel Fabrizio finishing ahead of Max Biaggi, Josh Brookes and Roberto Rolfo.

Bayliss on pole for World Superbike race

Troy Bayliss will start tomorrow’s World Superbike races at Donington Park from the pole positon spot, after a faultless Superpole lap just moments ago – boosted when his main rival for the honour Troy Corser crashed out.

Bayliss set a scintillating 1.30.37 best, inside the existing Superbike record set by Gregorio Lavilla, to head the front row from Nori Haga, Regis Laconi, and Brit series leader James Toseland.

On his lap, Hannspree Honda star Toseland looked on it from the first turn, and set hearts racing by coming within inches of the grass down Craner as he tried to eke out a solid early lap time, knowing that the Melbourne Loop has been a weak point for his Honda so far this weekend.

Despite maintaining a leading time for the first two sectors, Toseland lost nearly 0.4s on then-leader Nori Haga in the Loop alone to finish with a 1.31.99 best, fractions ahead of works Ducati man Lorenzo Lanzi who starts fifth, and Ruben Xaus on an 06-spec works 999 in sixth.

Meanwhile pole favourite Corser will start tomorrow’s races from eighth, after he uncharacteristically crashed on his lap, losing the front on the entry to Redgate just moments into his lap. He was unhurt, and is still certain to be a factor in the races.

Suzuki star Max Biaggi, in only his third Superpole, set an opening sector time that was inside the previous best, but he lost time in the middle sector of the lap where Haga had been so fast and yet more in the Melbourne Loop final section where many riders are stuggling. He starts seventh.

Haga started early in the session, setting only the ninth best time in qualifying, yet despite a slide on the opening sector which saw him down on the previous best, he recovered to set a new session best nearly a second faster than the existing best which proved second quickest overall.

It was enough to keep him ahead by 0.15s of France’s Regis Laconi who has been solidly setting a strong pace all weekend on his ZX-10R. His team-mate Fonsi Nieto starts 10th.

Suzuki Germany’s Max Neukirchner starts from the third row, setting 11th in Superpole on his ‘K6’ GSX-R1000, which is actually a 2005-spec works bike.

Giovanni Bussei headed the field out as 16th fastest in normal qualifying, and improved to 12th on his 06-spec Ducati 999, which he is driving to races towed behind a car.

Next behind Bussei was Italian compatriot Michel Fabrizio and his Aussie DFX Corse team-mate Steve Martin. Martin is only racing after a last-minute cash injection and by calling in favours when the team thought they had lost a sponsor two weeks ago.

Meanwhile it was a disastrous session for Toseland’s team-mate Robby Rolfo, who suffered some kind of machine problem on his out lap and ran off the track into the gravel at the Melbourne Loop.

Rolfo at least was able to paddle the bike out of the gravel, more than could be said for Aussie rider Josh Brookes, who folded the front at speed at the fast left Schwantz corner, leaving his Alto Evolution Honda battered and bruised. His team-mate Karl Muggeridge put in a solid lap, to secure nith. on the grid for tomorrow’s races.

RESULTS 1. Bayliss 1.30.37
2. Haga 1.31.08
3. Laconi 1.31.38
4. Toseland 1.31.40
5. Lanzi 1.31.50
6. Xaus 1.31.69
7. Biaggi 1.31.69
8. Corser Crashed
9. Muggeridge 1.32.08
10. Nieto 1.32.18
11. Neukirchner 1.32.19
12. Bussei 1.32.74
13. Fabrizio 1.32.75
14. Martin 1.33.54
15. Rolfo Crashed
16. Brookes Crashed