Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Qualifying Times:

1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, 1:54.095
2. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, 1:54.404
3. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, 1:55.098
4. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:55.795
5. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, 1:56.146
6. Glen Richards, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:56.216
7. Steve Hislop, Ducati 998RS, 1:56.284
8. Michael Rutter, Ducati 998RS, 1:56.382
9. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, 1:56.643
10. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 1:56.705
11. Shane Byrne, Ducati 998RS, 1:56.971
12. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:57.182
13. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:58.858
14. Dean Ellison, Ducati 996RS, 1:58.929
15. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:59.267
16. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, 1:59.765
17. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, 1:59.917
18. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 2:00.208
19. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.390
20. Serafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, 2:01.033
21. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, 2:01.566
22. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 2:01.648
23. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, 2:02.297
24. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 2:03.185



More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 6 – Silverstone (Great Britain)
Friday Qualifying

PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW FOR BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) – FIFTH FOR XAUS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) – BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) TENTH AFTER LAST-MINUTE CRASH

Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) powered to third quickest time in Friday’s first qualifying session at Silverstone today, as rainstorms lashed the Grand Prix circuit and made conditions difficult for the WSBK riders on their first visit to the Northamptonshire track. As the track dried out in the last few minutes, championship leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) had a minor crash at Priory on his final run, ending the session in tenth. Team-mate Ruben Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) was always up at the front throughout the hour and finished in provisional fifth place. Ducati HM Plant rider Neil Hodgson continued his recent run of good form to take the overnight pole mark ahead of Colin Edwards (Honda), while Ducati ‘wild-card’ riders Steve Hislop (Monster Mob) and Michael Rutter (Renegade) also put in excellent performances to finish seventh and eighth respectively.

“Basically I just lost the front right at the end in the twisty section”, explained Troy. “I was pushing it a little too hard, we had just put a new tyre on and I was ready to go on the rapidly-drying track but just went down. There was a little bit of a damp spot there and I hurt my finger a little bit, but no dramas. We were at the top the whole session, just the last part let me down. I lost the front on an intermediate, I feel sure it would have been a good lap, but we’ll be up at the front tomorrow”.

“It was a really strange practice, you’re going out and in all the time and the lap times in the last five minutes went crazy” said Ruben. “We decided to put a slick on the back but it wasn’t easy to set a quick time in these conditions, especially when you come up on backmarkers. There’s only one line although it wasn’t dry all the way round, and everyone here is riding at a really high level so it’s difficult to pass because as soon as you make a move here you’re on the wet”.

“We had a really bad middle split on my quick lap when I got caught behind a Kawasaki halfway around” declared Ben, “but I’m happy to be third because if it rains tomorrow, it means I’m in the top four. The bike and the tyres are great, I just didn’t go fast enough. We’ve still got a bit more to learn around Silverstone, but I’m pretty happy with my performance today”.