Following a productive test at Vallelunga in July, Corser is feeling confident. His team have found a good set-up for the difficult circuit and he is hoping to finally get a win under his belt for his new team.
It looked like
Troy Bayliss on the Xerox Ducati was going to be the man to beat as he was the rider in front for the bulk of the session. With eight minutes left to go he had an excursion across the gravel and it was at this point that Corser stepped into the lead.
Third place belonged to local rider,
Max Biaggi on the Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki. Biaggi is from Rome and the circuit is a stones throw from his home town. He hasn't raced at the circuit for ten years but has tested there this year. Biaggi will be out to take a win in front of his home crowd.
The man who is hunting down James Toseland in the title fight, Noriyuki Haga, was in fourth place. Haga spends his early sessions concentrating on machine set-up and lets the fast laps come from that. He has said he has never felt closer to the title than he has this year and at the moment he is 41 points behind Toseland. So Haga is another rider very much out there for the win.
Championship leader, Toseland on the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda was running in fifth place. He has a lot riding on this weekend and he could potentially wrap up the title chase. However, with so many people hounding him for points and wins, it could be a tough one.
His team-mate
Roberto Rolfo has settled into the Italian circuit well and was circulating in sixth place ahead of
Michel Fabrizio on the DFX Treme Honda. Fabrizio is due to move to the Ducati Xerox team next season, replacing
Lorenzo Lanzi who was just behind him in eighth place.
Ruben Xaus on the Sterilgarda Ducati was in ninth place and
Regis Laconi on the PSG-1 Kawasaki completed the top ten.
WSBK Free practice results (1) – Vallelunga:1. Troy Corser
2. Troy Bayliss
3. Max Biaggi
4. Noriyuki Haga
5. James Toseland
6. Roberto Rolfo
7. Michel Fabrizio
8. Lorenzo Lanzi
9. Ruben Xaus
10. Regis Laconi
