Bayliss, On Friday Qualifying At Silverstone

Bayliss, On Friday Qualifying At Silverstone

© 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Troy Bayliss publicist:

TROY BAYLISS Racing – Media Information
For immediate release
Friday, 24 May 2002

Round 6, 2002 Superbike World Championship
Silverstone Circuit, England
First Qualifying Session Report

RAIN SLOWS SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING AT SILVERSTONE

Northamptonshire, England – A torrential downpour moments before the start of the opening qualifying session for this weekend’s sixth round of the Superbike World Championship at the Silverstone circuit in England forced a delayed start to the session that saw Britain’s Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) set the fastest time, while defending World Champion Troy Bayliss fell from his Infostrada Ducati in the closing minutes denying him a chance to challenge for the lead position.

With the 5.094km Northamptonshire circuit covered in water at the start of the one-hour long qualifying session, Bayliss was quick to adapt to the conditions consistently setting fast times in less than ideal conditions.

With the track conditions improving in the closing minutes, Bayliss along with a number of other riders switched from using full wet weather tyres and went to a combination of an intermediate front tyre, with a slick rear. The combination allowed the lap times to drop dramatically and saw a number of riders promote themselves well up the leader board.

Unfortunately for Bayliss, he was unable to capitalise on the improving track conditions as he fell from his Ducati 998 F-02 with less than five minutes remaining at the first of the double left-handers before the pit complex. He escaped any injury in the fall, but missed an opportunity to finish higher on the time sheets, finally being credited with the tenth fastest time of 1:56.705.

“With about five minutes to go we put a slick tyre on the rear and we ready to start doing some quick laps, but another rider fell just in front of me and I’m not sure what happened next, but the result was that I lost the front end of the bike and slid off the track,” said Bayliss. “I think it just baulked me a bit at the time and that was enough. There was no time left for me to go back out and do any more laps. For sure I would have liked to be higher, but that’s how it goes. It is only Friday and I was happy that I did the fastest time in the dry during this morning’s free practice session, so I’m just looking forward to tomorrow now.

“While the track was wet we did try a few different combinations with the bike, but didn’t spend too much time trying to work out a set up for totally wet conditions,” Bayliss added. “This track seems to dry quickly and the weather passes over just as quickly also. It’s not looking the best weather wise at the moment, but hopefully it will clear before Sunday.”

Fastest during today’s session was Neil Hodgson with a best lap of 1:54.095, followed by Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda, 1:54.404), Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati, 1:55.098) and Chris Walker (Fuchs Kawasaki, 1:55.795). Even though the track was drying, the times were well down from Bayliss’ fast time of 1:49.709 set during the morning’s practice session.

Qualifying concludes tomorrow morning before the top sixteen riders take to the circuit later in the afternoon for the all important grid position determining Superpole one-lap dash.

First Qualifying Session, Friday (Top ten)

1. Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati, 1:54.095

2. Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda), 1:54.404

3. Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati), 1:55.098

4. Chris Walker (Fuchs Kawasaki), 1:55.795

5. Ruben Xaus (Infostrada Ducati), 1:56.146

6. Glen Richards (Hawk Racing Kawasaki), 1:56.216

7. Steve Hislop (Monstermob Ducati), 1:56.216

8. Michael Rutter (Renegade Ducati), 1:56.382

9. James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati), 1:56.643

10. Troy Bayliss (Infostrada Ducati), 1:56.705



2002 World Superbike championship points (after 5 of 13 rounds)
1. T. Bayliss, 224; 2. C. Edwards, 186; 3. N. Hodgson, 131; 4. N. Haga, 103; 5. Ben Bostrom, 102; 6. R. Xaus, 96; 7. J. Toseland, 68; 8. G. Lavilla/C. Walker, 58; 10. Hitoyasu Izutsu (Kawasaki), 47.



More, from an official press release issued by the series organizers:

PRESS RELEASE
Round 6 – Great Britain – Silverstone,
24 May – 26 May 2002

Silverstone, 24 May 2002

Hodgson On Provisional Pole

Changeable weather conditions and high winds made life hard for all riders during the first competitive SBK action at Silverstone.

The downpour that ruined the end of the Supersport session had abated by the time the first Superbike Qualifying Session came around, although the 5,094 metre track was fully wet at the start of the one hour qualifying slot.

Despite some consistent areas of running water and damp patches under the bridges, the track dried rapidly in many places, making for dramatic changes of fortunes as the qualifying order changed with every few seconds that passed.

Ultimately the fastest man was Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) thanks to his mark of 1:54.095.

Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) almost took pole from the local hero, but could not quite exploit his final opportunity to set the best lap and finished 0.309 seconds down.

Languishing outside the top ten for significant periods, Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati) shot towards the provisional front row in the last minute, and was joined on the top plateau of times by fourth-fastest qualifier Chris Walker (Kawasaki Racing Team).

Ruben Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) enjoyed his session, finishing fifth fastest and rebuilt some confidence after his recent spells of misfortune and injury.

Glen Richards (Hawk Racing Kawasaki) enjoyed a spectacular result on day one, the privateer wild card putting in a great performance against the big boys as he gambled on slick tyres front and rear and celebrated a big first day payout.

British Superbike Championship leader Steve Hislop (Monstermob Ducati) peaked a little too soon on the rapidly drying circuit, but still held off the Renegade Racing Ducati of Michael Rutter.

Regular SBK competitor James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) took the first position on the third row of the provisional grid, thanks to his ninth-fastest time.

Troy Bayliss (Infostrada Ducati) fell from his machine in the last minutes and injured the ring finger of his left hand. He followed his physical fall with a tumble from his previously high qualifying position down to tenth.

A bumper day for the local entrants saw Shane Byrne (Renegade Ducati) take an excellent 11th.

Pierfrancesco Chili (NCR Ducati) did not have the opportunity to practice during the official test day on Wednesday 22 May, but nonetheless scored 12th place on the opening day of true competition.

Noriyuki Haga had a tough qualifying session scoring 16th and last provisional qualifying place on his FGF Aprilia, just beating factory Benelli rider Peter Goddard to a provisional Superpole start.

The unsettled weather conditions may see the times set today being the ones which are ultimately used for the determination of Superpole qualifying, and final grid positions for all other riders

In the Supersport Championship session, Fabien Foret, the Monza race winner, scored the psychological first blow, taking his Ten Kate Honda to the top of the timesheets.

Teenager Chris Vermeulen rode well to score second overall on his Van Zon Honda, with Karl Muggeridge in third on another Honda. Katsuaki Fujiwara, the third Monza podium finisher in the top four at Silverstone, took the fourth-best time on his Alstare Suzuki. The top finishing local rider was Iain Macpherson (Ten Kate Honda) fifth, with James Ellison (Kawasaki) 15th and James Whitham (Yamaha Belgarda) 17th.

The 45-minute Supersport session was interrupted by the aftermath of an accident, and then effectively lost the last five minutes due to a sudden downpour, causing a slight delay in the running of each subsequent session.

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