Day 3 Report – Bayliss hurts collarbone in Phillip Island testing
Hometown hero Troy Bayliss will be fighting against time to be fully fit for the opening world Superbike round in Qatar next month after cracking his right collarbone in testing at Phillip Island.
The dual world champion highsided at Turn 10 early this afternoon, with his machine then torpedoing into the Kawasaki of Regis Laconi. The Frenchman came out of the incident unscathed, while Bayliss was left with a broken collarbone near the junction with the sternum.
The latest injury is yet another setback for the 38-year-old, whose little finger on his right hand was partially amputated after a crash at Donington in 2007.
The opening round of this year’s 15-round world championship will be held on February 23, a week before the world Superbike caravan makes its way to Phillip Island from February 28-March 2.
Bayliss’ injury will not be plated, with doctors advising the Australian to rest for 21 days before contemplating a return to the saddle.
If all goes to plan, Bayliss will still grid up in Qatar on the all-new factory Ducati 1098F08, although he’ll probably have to grit his teeth to keep pace with the likes of compatriot Troy Corser (Yamaha YZF-R1), Japanese ace Noriyuki Haga (YZF-R1), Max Biaggi (Ducati 1098) and former MotoGP ace Carlos Checa (Honda CBR1000RR).
Bayliss’ crash came on the last day of official pre-season testing at Phillip Island, in a day where the 4.448km circuit was caught up in the high-pressure system currently striking southern Australia.
In 40-degree heat, and with the track temperature hovering near 60 degrees, not one Superbike or Supersport rider managed to better their time from the second day of testing – nor was it a high priority.
Instead, a majority of the riders completed race simulations as they rounded off their preparations for the warfare on March 2.
In Superbike, Bayliss still completed the three-day test with the fastest time – a 1:32.2 from day two. The current Superbike lap record is 1:31.826, set by Corser in 2007.
Just 1.3 seconds separated the top 10 riders at the three-day test, which augers well for some spectacular racing in the two 23-lap races on March 2. Behind Bayliss, Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama was next (GSX-R1000, 1:32.3), followed by Haga (1:32.4), Bayliss’ new teammate Michel Fabrizio (1098F08, 1:32.6), Ruben Xaus (1098, 1:32.7) and Corser (1:32.7).
Corser, who has won a record seven races at Phillip Island since 1995, was delighted with his progress over the three days, as he sets himself up for a serious tilt at world title No. 3.
“It was probably just too hot for tyres today, but I was pretty happy with how it all felt out there,” said the 36-year-old Wollongong rider. “I have been trying a different range of suspension settings this week, so there has been a lot to work through.
“I reckon we’ll head into Qatar with a really good package, and I hope to start off the year with a winning feeling.”
Behind Corser, Biaggi (1:32.9), Fonsi Nieto (GSX-R1000, 1:33.0), Laconi (ZX-10R, 1:33.0), Makota Tamada (ZX-10R, 1:33.5) and German Max Neukirchner (GSX-R1000, 1:35.5) followed. Neukirchner sat out the final two days with laryngitis.
Tamada was a three-time world Superbike winner in 2001 and 2002, as well as winning two MotoGP races in a grand prix career that finished at the end of 2007.
In Supersport, nine riders were in action, including four of the five Aussies who’ll compete in 2007 – Garry McCoy (Triumph Daytona 675), former world champion Andrew Pitt (Honda CBR600RR), Josh Brookes (CBR600RR) and championship favourite Broc Parkes (Yamaha YZF-R6).
Parkes, the reigning world No. 2, came out on top after three exhausting days, his 1:34.8 besting mightily impressive Brit, Jonathan Rea (CBR600RR), by just 0.2 seconds. It was 20-year-old Rea’s first visit to Phillip Island, and in the most extreme of conditions.
Pitt (1:35.3) and Brookes (1:35.8), both former world Supersport winners at Phillip Island, were next, ahead of a trio of Kawasaki ZX-6Rs – Chris Walker (1:36.0), Fabien Foret (1:36.6) and Katsuaki Fujiwara (1:36.7). Brookes’ teammate Robbin Harms (1:37.0) anchored the time sheet.
A new world Supersport champion will definitely be crowned in 2008, as last year’s winner, Kenan Sofuoglu, has now made the ascension to Superbike, alongside former MotoGP star Carlos Checa and 2007 British Superbike No. 1 Ryuichi Kiyonari in the all-conquering Ten Kate Honda equip.
WORLD SUPERBIKE BEST TIMES
1 Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati – 1:32.2
2 Yukio Kagayama, Japan, Suzuki – 1:32.3
3 Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha – 1:32.4
4 Michel Fabrizio, Italy, Ducati – 1:32.6
=5 Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati – 1:32.7
=5 Troy Corser, Australia, Yamaha – 1:32.7
7 Max Biaggi, Italy, Ducati – 1:32.9
=8 Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Suzuki – 1:33.0
=8 Regis Laconi, France, Kawasaki – 1:33.0
10 Makota Tamada, Japan, Kawasaki – 1:33.5
11 Max Neukirchner, Germany, Suzuki – 1:35.5
WORLD SUPERSPORT BEST TIMES
1 Broc Parkes, Australia, Yamaha – 1:34.8
2 Jonathan Rea, Great Britain, Honda – 1:35.0
3 Andrew Pitt, Australia, Honda – 1:35.3
4 Josh Brookes, Australia, Honda – 1:35.8
5 Chris Walker, Great Britain, Kawasaki – 1:36.0
6 Garry McCoy, Australia, Triumph – 1:36.2
7 Fabien Foret, France, Yamaha – 1:36.6
8 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan, Kawasaki – 1:36.7
9 Robbin Harms, Denmark, Honda – 1:37.0
