From a press release:

TROY BAYLISS Racing – Media Information
Tuesday, 18 June 2002
Round 8, 2002 Superbike World Championship
Autodromo di Misano, Misano Adriatica, Italy
Event preview

BAYLISS FORECASTS HOT RECEPTION AT MISANO

Misano, Italy (Tuesday, June 18) – The province of San Marino plays host to the eighth round of the 2002 Superbike World Championship this weekend (June 23) at the Autodromo di Misano circuit on the Italian Adriatic coast with high summer temperatures expected to add to the excitement of one of the most popular rounds of the championship.

The round will also be of high importance for defending champion Troy Bayliss. He along with his Infostrada Ducati team and other high profile Ducati teams and riders have been special guests at World Ducati Week, which has been held at Misano and surrounding areas over the past four days. Many of those attending the festival week will be staying on at Misano for the SWC round and will be hoping for continued success by their Australian hero.

For Bayliss though, the added pressure of WDW will not play any more of an important factor than his usual approach to any round of the championship.

“I have been here at Misano since late last week taking part in activities with the World Ducati Week and it has been a huge success,” said Bayliss. “I’ve caught up with a lot of people and have had a great response from everyone that has been here. I know that a lot of people will still be here for the weekend, but as far as any additional pressure goes, for sure I’ll want to do well, but I will be just going through my usual preparations for the round. It’s like another home round for us, so it is important to do well there.

“The temperatures have been quite hot here and it is expected to stay the same, in the mid to high 30s (C) I guess. That will make for two very hard races,” added Bayliss. “Last year it was hot and the racing was close and I think it will be the same again this weekend, it’s also a lot hotter than what it was when we tested here a few weeks ago. Once again I expect the likes of Colin (Edwards), Neil, (Hodgson), Ruben (Xaus) and Ben (Bostrom) to be in the lead group. They’ve all done well here in the past and I know that all of the Ducati riders will be looking for a win in front of the big Italian crowd.”

Bayliss arrives at the San Marino round holding a 29-point championship lead over arch rival Colin Edwards after scoring his fifth double race victory of the season at the previous round at the Lausitzring in Germany. Bayliss has won a staggering eleven races from the fourteen held this year, but has been unable to break clear of Edwards who has been equally consistent and kept the World Champion within reach.

Bayliss has a strong record at Misano having won the opening race there last year and placing second on three other occasions in his last two visits to the Italian circuit.

Practice and qualifying for this weekend’s round gets underway on Friday (June 21), followed by final qualifying and Superpole on Saturday, before Sunday’s two 25-lap SWC races.



AUTODROMO Di MISANO, SWC FAST FACTS
Circuit Length: 4.060km
Superpole: Neil Hodgson (GSE Ducati) 1:35.235
Lap record: Neil Hodgson (GSE Ducati) 1:35.403 (2001)

2001 Race 1 / 25laps
1 Troy Bayliss (Infostrada Ducati)
2. Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati)
3 Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda)

2001 Race 2 / 25laps
1. Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati)
2 Troy Bayliss (Infostrada Ducati)
3. Gregorio Lavilla (Fuchs Kawasaki)

2002 World Superbike championship points (after 7of 13 rounds)

1. T Bayliss 310; 2. C Edwards 271; 3. N Hodgson 165; 4. N Haga 153; 5.

R Xaus 152; 6. B Bostrom 143; 7. J Toseland 99; 8. C Walker 80; 9. G Lavilla 68; 10. P Chili 58.