WSBK News

Hannspree Stiggy Honda's Josh Brookes had overturned Broc Parkes' pole position to take an early lead over the Yamaha rider, while Broc's team-mate Foret initially lost ground from third on the grid.

Last year's double Monza winner Noriyuki Haga is predicting a flat-out fight during Sunday's World Superbike races at the high speed Italian circuit, but is hoping for last minute set-up progress after failing to match his 2007 pace in qualifying.

A stunning first sector saw Bayliss pull half a second over the previous fastest rider, Hannspree Ten Kate's Carlos Checa, before increasing his advantage to 0.7secs through the middle of the lap and then 0.835secs over the Spaniard by the flag.

The reigning World Supersport champion had finished Friday qualifying at Monza an impressive eighth fastest for Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, but will play no further part in the weekend.

Riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser are both have a proven record at Monza, in races and Superpole, with Haga looking to repeat his double win of one year ago after finishing just two of the last four races.

The Spaniard gave himself plenty of work to do in both races at the historic Dutch circuit which team manager Ronald ten Kate colourfully describes as their "back garden!"

Ten Kate racing have long been the dominant force in Supersport racing and have won many times at Assen over the years, but to get a one-two on your home round is special.

The now infamous first race, last lap clash with Carlos Checa that forced Neukirchner to miss the second race there with a collarbone injury has been forced from his mind and the German was a model of consistency today.

Bayliss is hugely keen on cycling and is well known for doing many miles on his pushbike to train and keep fit in and around Monte Carlo where he lives.

The new 1190cc V-twin powered machine qualified an impressive tenth on the grid in the hands of its 21-year-old rider Rene Mahr, but failed to reach the chequered flag after the Austrian crashed out on lap 3.

Sergio Fuertes completed just one lap at his home round of the World Superbike Championship at Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo on Sunday before suffering a huge accident.

Troy Bayliss may not have won a race at Valencia on Sunday, but the Australian still increased his 2008 World Superbike Championship lead from 27 to 48 points - helped partly by the last turn clash between race leaders Max Neukirchner and Carlos Checa.

Simeon, who had finished third, was hit from behind by Seaton on the cool-down lap - but was able to limp up to the podium - while the Australian was taken to the Clinica Mobile with concussion.

But next time out, at Valencia, the Klaffi Honda rider was spat violently from his CBR1000RR - fracturing his hand in the process - and has never returned to the podium since.

The former MotoGP star, who has completed almost 50 jumps since the mid-1990s, took off from nearby Castellon Airport in a Cessna light aircraft and then jumped out at an altitude of 4000 metres together with three other colleagues.

The former Foggy Petronas Racing World Superbike team has instructed Wyles Hardy & Co to stage an online website sale of all remaining equipment and assets.

The Roman, who fell from his Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati at around 200km/h during race two in Australia, has been told that the mild climate of the Indian Ocean location will help his many bumps and bruises heal, although his fractured left wrist remains in a cast.

2008 World Superbike Championship leader Troy Bayliss and Ducati Xerox team-mate Michel Fabrizio have both been forced to miss the two-day test due to injury, as has Sterilgarda Go Eleven rider Max Biaggi.

The proposed Indonesian round of the World Superbike Championship and its support events has been canned, reducing the senior calendar to 14 rounds in 2008.

Reigning Spanish Supersport champion Graeme Gowland registered the first points of his 2008 World Championship season at the weekend, coming home a fighting 13th at Phillip Island.

There wasn't much in it in the end for the ex-Superbike racer - and previous winner at Phillip Island - Josh Brookes, but the Aussie was happy enough with second place to Andrew Pitt and now leads the World Supersport championship for Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport.

Team Pedercini endured a terrible day in Australia, highlighted by Vittorio Iannuzzo injuring his left wrist in a startline accident with Michel Fabrizio.

Italian Michel Fabrizio won his first podium in race one for Xerox Ducati despite a big start-line collision that ripped off his boot.

Superbike race action at Phillip Island was halted almost as soon as it had started after a startline accident involving Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio. The sudden appearance of the red flags then created another incident at Lukey Heights that decimated the Honda contingent.