Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss fought over provisional pole under the burning Italian sun at Misano. The pair pushed each other harder and harder as the session wore on, but in the end it was again Bayliss who prevailed, holding onto provisional pole with a time of 1:34.420 compared to Edwards’ best effort of 1:34.561.

Ben Bostrom was also up there on the timesheet but couldn’t match the lead duo. He finished the session third on 1:34.669, just ahead of Neil Hodgson who made a late charge into fourth.

The provisional second row features Pierfrancesco Chili, Noriyuki Haga, Ruben Xaus and James Toseland. Steve Martin was just edged off the second row by Toseland in the closing stages.
Martin’s first Pirelli rider, qualifying for this afternoon’s Superpole in ninth.

The grid will be final decided in the heat of Superpole at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.

World Superbike
Misano, San Marino
Combined qualifying times

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 1:34.420
2. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, 1:34.561
3. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, 1:34.669
4. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01,1:34.717
5. Pierfrancesco Chili,Ducati 998RS, 1:34.802
6. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, 1:35.110
7. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, 1:35.390
8. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, 1:35.464
9. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS,1:35.641
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:35.689
11. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:35.767
12. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:36.144
13. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:36.210
14. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:36.276
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:36.963
16. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, 1:36.995
17. Serafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, 1:37.016
18. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.273
19. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900,1:37.296
20. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:37.774
21. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:37.811
22. Michele Malatesta, Ducati 996RS, 1:38.746
23. Alessandro Valia, Ducati 996RS, 1:38.855
24. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, 1:39.069
25. Bertrand Stey, Honda RC51, 1:39.123
26. Paolo Blora, Ducati 996RS, 1:39.322
27. Giuliano Sartoni, Ducati 996RS, 1:40.153
28. Marjan Malec, Ducati 996RS, 1:40.883
NQ. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 996RS, 1:41.065
NQ. Yann Gyger,Honda RC51, 1:41.229
NQ. Cristian Caliumi, Ducati 996RS, 1:42.055