Former double World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss was left cursing a decision to change bikes prior to the crucial Superpole session in Qatar – one that has left him an unlucky seventh on the starting grid for Saturday's opening two 2008 WSBK races around the Losail International Circuit.

The Aussie had been practically on the pace of compatriot, namesake and fellow two-time title-winner Troy Corser throughout the two qualifying sessions, but when it really counted the speed fell away.

“We changed bikes just before the session,” the 38-year-old reflected, after winding up more than a second away from the top spot, “and I didn't feel totally happy. I think it would have been better to do Superpole on a race tyre. I was really happy earlier this afternoon when we used race tyres during the session, so that's a positive thing.

“It doesn't take much for the lap to be less than perfect, and there are several of us running with times that are really close, so the result is that I've taken seventh place which is not as good as I had hoped.”

Ducati Xerox team-mate Michel Fabrizio set the tenth-quickest time, two tenths of a second adrift of Bayliss. The Italian succeeded in improving upon his best qualifying effort, but due to the highly-competitive nature of the field slipped back three spots on his earlier Q2 showing.

“I had hoped to do better today in Superpole,” the 2003 European Superstock Champion admitted, “but I wasn't feeling totally well. I have a bit of a temperature, so at the end of the day I'm quite happy with how I went.

“I'm ready for tomorrow; we seem to be ready with regard to the bike's settings, so if we can get the right tyre combination then we should be able to do well. The wind was again an issue, but now we just have to wait and see how it is tomorrow and whether I can get a good start from my place on the grid.”