From a press release issued by Ducati:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

SBK Winter Testing – Phillip Island (Australia)

Thursday 31 January 2002


BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) STAYS TOP AT PHILLIP ISLAND TESTING

World champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) remained top of the timesheets at Phillip Island, Australia as strong winds hampered day 2 of SBK Winter Testing. Ducati Infostrada teammate Ruben Xaus also failed to improve on his Wednesday time, while Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) knocked a full second off the previous day’s mark to move up to fifth quickest overall.

Track conditions made it difficult for all three riders to complete their tyre test programme, but significant times were recorded in race trim as Bayliss, Xaus and Bostrom all put in a lengthy series of laps.

Bayliss did two ‘long-run’ sessions in his total of 75 laps today, recording a best time of 1:33.102, but was pleased to have found a tyre for the race here on March 24.

“It was very difficult out there today with the strong winds”, said Troy. “But we still managed to get a lot of work done and if the conditions are good tomorrow, I’ll be aiming to get down into the low 32s on a softer tyre”.

Xaus had his second minor crash of the three-day test at Honda curve, when he was caught out by a sharp gust of wind, but this did not prevent him from completing his programme and recording a best time of 1:33.785 in his 34 laps.

“I lost control of the bike at the slow Honda corner but it wasn’t my fault, the wind just lifted me up”, declared Xaus. “Up until then however things had been going well and I’ll complete my test programme with a couple of ‘long-runs’ tomorrow”.

Bostrom made considerable improvement over Wednesday and ended up with a best time of 1:34.028 in his 63 laps, but was still not entirely happy with the set-up of his 998R Factory despite numerous changes to improve grip at the back.

“I got my time down by one second today so for sure we’re going in the right direction”, said Bostrom, “but when I get the bike 100% to my liking then I know I’ll be up there at the front”.

The SBK Winter Tests at Phillip Island conclude tomorrow, Friday.

THURSDAY TIMES (overall best time in brackets):

1. BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) 1:33.102 (1:32.944)

2. Edwards (Honda) 1:33.143

3. Haga (Aprilia) 1:33.456

4. XAUS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) 1:33.785 (1:33.180)

5. BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) 1:34.028

6. Martin (Ducati DFX) 1:34.084

7. Izutsu (Kawasaki) 1:34.464

8. Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) 1:34.472

9. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 1:34.903

10. Walker (Kawasaki) 1:35.949

11. Antonello (Ducati DFX) 1:35.957.


From a press release issued by SBK, promoters of the Superbike World Championship Series:

Superbike World Championship
Australia – Winter Test
Phillip Island 31st January 2002

A crash strewn day of testing action at Phillip Island saw Colin Edwards, Ben Bostrom, Chris Walker and Ruben Xaus all crash out at various stages, although none were seriously injured.

The high winds, which picked up even greater momentum in the afternoon sessions, were partly to blame for the relative lack of progress the top riders made in improving their overall best times. The dramas were not confined to the riders, as both Noriyuki Haga’s Aprilia V-Twins suffered mechanical problems, and Steve Martin was forced to freewheel back down pit lane when his DFX Ducati engine stopped.

Troy Bayliss was once more the man for all the others to aim for, setting a best time of 1:33.102 during a 75 lap stint on his Infostrada Ducati.

Second quickest today was Colin Edwards on the factory Honda. Noriyuki Haga was the fastest rider in the afternoon session, but only third overall, making it a day of up and downs for his Aprilia factory team. Ruben Xaus scored fourth quickest time of the day, with his best time coming in the morning session.

L&M Ducati rider Ben Bostrom scored fifth on the Thursday stopwatches, and was the second rider to make his afternoon time the best of the day.

Steve Martin was the top privateer rider, scoring sixth best overall. The fastest four-cylinder rider on display was Hitoyasu Izutsu, who took his factory Kawasaki to seventh fastest.

Behind Izutsu, Neil Hodgson and James Toseland made more progress in their quest to find an ideal setup on their all-new HM Plant Ducatis, with Chris Walker (Kawasaki) and Alessandro Antonello (DFX Ducati) filling the final two places on the Thursday time sheets.

In the Supersport class, John McGuinness was ejected from the seat of his CBR after exiting the slow right-handed Honda corner on his Honda UK machine, and injured his shin and thigh when he was run over by his own bike. His badly bruised knee prevented him from continuing in the afternoon session.

The running order of riders in the Supersport class remained the same as day one, with Pere Riba faster than Chris Vermeulen, Andrew Pitt, Fabien Foret, Karl Muggeridge, John McGuinness, and James Ellison.

The final day of testing takes place on Friday 1 February, with all the riders hoping that the winds abate to allow them to set even faster times.