WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 2 – Phillip Island (Australia), 24 March 2002
PREVIEW
The spectacular Phillip Island circuit south of Melbourne plays host to the second round of the World Superbike Championship just a fortnight after the season opener at Valencia, where a brace of wins by reigning champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) enabled the Australian to get his 2002 campaign off to the best possible start. Bayliss returns to his home country brimming with confidence now that round 1 is in the bag and will be eager to score his first ever World Superbike victory on this track. During late January testing at Phillip Island Troy was the quickest rider around the 4.445km track, clocking a best lap of 1’32.944, just under the existing Superbike lap record. “I’m really looking forward to going to Phillip Island this year”, declared Bayliss after his Valencia win. “We tested there a few weeks ago, unlike in 2001 and as a result we’ve got a few things up our sleeve. I’m feeling very confident at the moment, especially after the two wins at Valencia and looking forward to getting some more good results at the Island. Even though living in Europe means that you are away from home most of the year, it’s nice to know you’ve got a lot of fans back home to cheer you on when you come back”.
Troy will be backed up by his Ducati Infostrada team-mate, the young Spaniard Ruben Xaus, who scored a fifth and a DNF in front of his home crowd in the opening round. “I like racing at Phillip Island, the circuit is really good, let’s just hope the weather is better than last year! I fell off in Valencia, which was my fault, and I just have to put that behind me and forget it. There are 26 races in a season and it’s difficult to do them all without dropping any points. Once again I’ll be trying to do my best and stay up at the top with the others this weekend”.
Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) will be looking to continue his excellent start to the season with more strong results to add to his 3rd and 4th in the opening round. “Phillip Island is going to be a real challenge”, declared Bostrom, “because I’ve never done particularly well here. Last year I was on the front row, but it rained and I crashed so it can’t get any worse than that. I think it’s all going to come down to tyres here, but you also have to ride well on this circuit… and pray for good weather! I think you also need to get dialled in to the speed pretty quickly, because coming from a slow track like Valencia to here where nearly every corner is quick, a rider needs to get up to speed quickly”.
THE PHILLIP ISLAND CIRCUIT
The Phillip Island circuit, situated two hours drive south of Victoria State capital Melbourne, has been home to motor racing for more than 70 years since the first Australian Grand Prix was held on a 6.5 mile public road course in 1928. World Superbikes first raced there in 1990 and since then many improvements have been made to the circuit, including a pit-lane complex with 40 garages, a media centre and hospitality unit. The Phillip Island Motor Sports organisers are committed to maintaining current high standards at the picturesque circuit, which is loved by drivers, riders and spectators alike.
CIRCUIT RECORDS
Lap Record: Corser (Ducati) 1’33.019 (1999); Superpole: Corser (Aprilia) 1’32.193 (1999); Qualifying: Corser (Ducati) 1’32.623 (1999).
2001 RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Edwards (Honda), 2. Okada (Honda), 3. Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada). Race 2: cancelled.
TV COVERAGE
Eurosport (pan Europe): Sunday 24 March, Race 1 0200-0300 (live), 0400-0445 (relive), Race 2 0530-0630 (live), 0730-0830 (relive); Monday 25 March, 0830-0930 (highlights). LA7 (Italy): Sunday 24 March, Race 1 1350 (delayed), Race 2 1740 (delayed).
<font color=red>Live it</font color=red> <font color=blue>></font color=blue> <font color=red>Ride it</font color=red> <font color=blue>></font color=blue> <font color=red>Race it</font color=red>
Round 2 – Phillip Island (Australia), 24 March 2002
PREVIEW
The spectacular Phillip Island circuit south of Melbourne plays host to the second round of the World Superbike Championship just a fortnight after the season opener at Valencia, where a brace of wins by reigning champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) enabled the Australian to get his 2002 campaign off to the best possible start. Bayliss returns to his home country brimming with confidence now that round 1 is in the bag and will be eager to score his first ever World Superbike victory on this track. During late January testing at Phillip Island Troy was the quickest rider around the 4.445km track, clocking a best lap of 1’32.944, just under the existing Superbike lap record. “I’m really looking forward to going to Phillip Island this year”, declared Bayliss after his Valencia win. “We tested there a few weeks ago, unlike in 2001 and as a result we’ve got a few things up our sleeve. I’m feeling very confident at the moment, especially after the two wins at Valencia and looking forward to getting some more good results at the Island. Even though living in Europe means that you are away from home most of the year, it’s nice to know you’ve got a lot of fans back home to cheer you on when you come back”.
Troy will be backed up by his Ducati Infostrada team-mate, the young Spaniard Ruben Xaus, who scored a fifth and a DNF in front of his home crowd in the opening round. “I like racing at Phillip Island, the circuit is really good, let’s just hope the weather is better than last year! I fell off in Valencia, which was my fault, and I just have to put that behind me and forget it. There are 26 races in a season and it’s difficult to do them all without dropping any points. Once again I’ll be trying to do my best and stay up at the top with the others this weekend”.
Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) will be looking to continue his excellent start to the season with more strong results to add to his 3rd and 4th in the opening round. “Phillip Island is going to be a real challenge”, declared Bostrom, “because I’ve never done particularly well here. Last year I was on the front row, but it rained and I crashed so it can’t get any worse than that. I think it’s all going to come down to tyres here, but you also have to ride well on this circuit… and pray for good weather! I think you also need to get dialled in to the speed pretty quickly, because coming from a slow track like Valencia to here where nearly every corner is quick, a rider needs to get up to speed quickly”.
THE PHILLIP ISLAND CIRCUIT
The Phillip Island circuit, situated two hours drive south of Victoria State capital Melbourne, has been home to motor racing for more than 70 years since the first Australian Grand Prix was held on a 6.5 mile public road course in 1928. World Superbikes first raced there in 1990 and since then many improvements have been made to the circuit, including a pit-lane complex with 40 garages, a media centre and hospitality unit. The Phillip Island Motor Sports organisers are committed to maintaining current high standards at the picturesque circuit, which is loved by drivers, riders and spectators alike.
CIRCUIT RECORDS
Lap Record: Corser (Ducati) 1’33.019 (1999); Superpole: Corser (Aprilia) 1’32.193 (1999); Qualifying: Corser (Ducati) 1’32.623 (1999).
2001 RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Edwards (Honda), 2. Okada (Honda), 3. Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada). Race 2: cancelled.
TV COVERAGE
Eurosport (pan Europe): Sunday 24 March, Race 1 0200-0300 (live), 0400-0445 (relive), Race 2 0530-0630 (live), 0730-0830 (relive); Monday 25 March, 0830-0930 (highlights). LA7 (Italy): Sunday 24 March, Race 1 1350 (delayed), Race 2 1740 (delayed).
<font color=red>Live it</font color=red> <font color=blue>></font color=blue> <font color=red>Ride it</font color=red> <font color=blue>></font color=blue> <font color=red>Race it</font color=red>
