Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Glenn Le Santo
The incredible WSB turnaround continues
Colin Edwards looks poised to bring about the biggest upset of Superbike history. He’s caught and passed Troy Bayliss in the title hunt and now he’s taken provisional pole at Imola.
By the middle of the season Troy Bayliss looked to have secured his second World Superbike crown. He’d won the first six races of the season and at one stage was 58 points ahead of Edwards, who to his credit, has never given up all year.
When Edwards won the second race at Laguna Seca it marked the start of an incredible comeback he’s won every race since! Then Edwards went one point ahead when Bayliss crashed out in the second race at Assen. “I reckon we’ve got him well and truly mentally f–ked!” said Edwards before this weekend!
Colin Edwards, Friday morning free practice, Imola.
As if to confirm his point Edwards sits on provisional pole at the end of the first day, with a lap time of 1:48.336. Meanwhile Bayliss is back in fourth, 1.108 seconds down on the Texan. Ruben Xaus was second fastest, but he was almost a second slower than Edwards. Neil Hodgson was third fastest.
Hodgson had fallen halfway throughout the session when he collided with Xaus. Bostrom also fell but was unhurt.
Friday’s World Superbike qualifying times:
1. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, 1:48.336
2. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, 1:49.256
3. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, 1:49.414
4. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 1:49.444
5. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, 1:49.792
6. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:50.005
7. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, 1:50.103
8. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, 1:50.371
9. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, 1:50.408
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:50.790
11. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:51.440
12. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.565
13. Serafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, 1:51.827
14. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:51.966
15. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:52.188
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:52.212
17. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:52.263
18. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, 1:52.315
19. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:52.472
20. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, 1:52.719
21. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:53.950
22. Michele Malatesta, Ducati 996RS, 1:54.300
23. Alessandro Valia, Ducati 996RS, 1:54.329
24. Jeronimo Vidal, Honda RC51, 1:54.933
25. Luca Pini, Ducati 996RS, 1:55.102
26. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, 1:55.255
27. Paolo Blora, Ducati 996RS, 1:56.180
28. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 996RS, 1:58.175
29. Marjan Malec, Ducati 996RS, 1:58.375
30. Giuliano Sartoni, Ducati 996RS, 1:59.901
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 13 – Imola (Italy)
27-29 September 2002
BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) FOURTH QUICKEST AT IMOLA – XAUS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) AND BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) SECOND AND NINTH RESPECTIVELY
Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) set fourth quickest time in today’s opening qualifying session for the final round of the World Superbike Championship at Imola, Italy as championship rival (Colin Edwards) took provisional pole. Ducati team-mates Ruben Xaus (Infostrada) and Ben Bostrom (L&M) were second and ninth quickest respectively in the afternoon qualifying session, which was red-flagged twice during the hour.
Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) was one of five riders to get under the 1m50s mark, putting his 998 F02 on the provisional front row of the grid with fourth-quickest time of 1:49.444. “We tried lots of different things in that session, but now we need to come up with something better if we’re going to get closer to Colin in qualifying”, declared Troy. “It’s hard to be happy when someone is going a second faster than you but I’m sure me and the guys will find something extra tomorrow. I’m missing something in the third split so that’s where we’re going to have to work and find a setting that will help me go over the bumps, because the bike feels quite harsh”.
After his excellent performances here in 2001, Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) again showed his liking for the Imola track with second-quickest time of 1:49.256, just under one second slower than Edwards. “My lap time wasn’t so good today, last year we were riding much faster here”, commented Ruben. “It was a tough practice with red flags twice, then oil, then when I got out with a qualifier I always found someone else in the middle, which made me lose concentration. I was waiting for a second qualifying lap but then there was a big crash somewhere else and there were yellow flags in three corners. Although the surface is pretty rough it has good grip, but when it gets oily then it becomes quite hairy. I improved a lot in the afternoon and tomorrow I hope to be there with Colin.”
Bostrom (Ducati L&M) set ninth quickest time in 1:50.408 on his twentieth lap of the session but crashed on the exit of the final chicane just yards after the start-finish line, at the very end of that lap, bruising his left hand and right foot. The Californian then sat out the final ten minutes of the session. “I went to accelerate out of the corner and for some reason the bike accelerated, then spun really quick and spat me off”, explained Ben. “That was my quick lap and I was sliding across the finish line. I wasn’t even trying to push on that lap either, my quick lap was going to be the next one. My left hand slapped down so hard at first I couldn’t feel it, but it’s OK now”.
More, from a press release issued by Castrol Honda:
EDWARDS ON TOP AFTER OPENING QUALIFYING
Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards set the fastest time in this afternoon’s opening qualifying session for the final round of the World Superbike championship here at Imola in Italy.
The Texan was in confident mood as he lapped the 3.04-mile circuit more than one second inside the existing lap record.
“We tested here last week so I knew we’d be quick straight out of the box today,” said Edwards. “But we’ve got tomorrow’s action to go and I’d like to think we could try a qualifying tyre and get a chunk of time off my best lap today.
“We had a couple of tyres to try and a few new suspension settings and in general we’re happy with the progress today,” continued Edwards. “At the very end of the session I tried a brand new Superpole tyre but ran out of time and didn’t really get the final lap I was looking for.”
Edwards leads the world championship by a single point but the 28-year-old remains in a relaxed state as he builds towards Sunday¹s two 21-lap races.
“I am pretty relaxed, no need to be anything else. I’m feeling more tension from watching the Ryder Cup golf on TV today,” added keen golfer Edwards.
More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:
All systems go for Imola showdown
Neil Hodgson and James Toseland started the last round of the 2002 Superbike World Championship at Imola as they mean to go on. The HM Plant Ducatis ended the first official qualifying session by finishing in third (Hodgson) and fifth (Toseland) positions respectively, with the former a fraction outside Troy Corser’s existing lap record (1:49.398).
While media attention will focus on the battle between Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards for the title, Hodgson and Toseland will be gearing up for their own respective showdowns to confirm their third and seventh positions in the championship overall. With this in mind, both riders were happy with their qualifying performances in preparation for tomorrow afternoon’s one-lap Superpole qualifying session and Sunday’s two races.
Hodgson was second behind Edwards in this morning’s free practice, but his progress was halted when he collided with Ruben Xaus in the afternoon session. “I was feeling really good out there until Xaus came under me at the Rivazza and knocked me off,” said the 28-year-old who is competing in his last race for the team after four years with GSE Racing.
“I had to complete the remainder of the session on my number two machine, but I was reasonably happy with my time under the circumstances. With the pace that Edwards is setting already, I know that I have to get down to the 1:48 barrier to make more progress tomorrow.”
Toseland was elated with one of his best qualifying performances of the year: “My objective is to finish ahead of Chili and Walker in the battle for seventh overall and so I am delighted to be ahead of them on time – even at this early stage of the weekend. I’m feeling positive after making it on to the podium at Assen and hope that I can carry that form through the rest of the weekend.”