Bayliss - fastest during the first two days of testing - lost control of his new Ducati 1098R while trying to pass PSG-1 Kawasaki's
Regis Laconi on the entry to MG corner. Bayliss was flipped from his bike as he tried to avoid a collision, with his machine then taking out Laconi.
The Frenchman walked away unhurt, but Bayliss was diagnosed with a 'minor' right collarbone fracture by the Clinica Mobile and taken to hospital for further checks. It is presently estimated that the Australian will need 21 days to recover, meaning that his participation in the 2008 Qatar season opener on February 23 should at least be safe.
In Troy's absence, Alstare Suzuki rider Kagayama - Bayliss' closest challenger on day two - set the fastest time of both a scorching hot final day and the test as a whole, thanks to a 1min 32.1secs circulation. That effectively matched the official Superpole lap record (Bayliss 2007), but is still behind the official race lap record of 1min 31.8secs (Corser 2007).
"I am a happy man today, not just because I set the fastest lap here, but because we have done a lot of very good work during these three days," said the Japanese. "The mechanics have worked very hard - last night they finished after midnight! - and that allowed me to put in a lot of laps and give them a lot of information and data. It was very hot today so we had to make a lot of adjustments to the settings. All in all this test has been very productive and a good way to start 2008."
Kagayama left Phillip Island 0.1secs inside Bayliss' test best (from day two) while three riders were tied for third on the overall timesheets -
Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox),
Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki) and
Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) having all set a 1min 32.3secs on day three.
Only one tenth of a second behind that exciting trio came 2007 title runner-up
Noriyuki Haga. Yamaha was testing its variable intake system at Phillip Island and should race with it in 2008.
