In typical Baylisstic style, Aussie hero Troy Bayliss has taken provisional pole position for Sunday’s Assen World Superbike races despite have a big off on his pushbike in Monte Carlo on Wednesday night and only flying to Holland late last night.
The Xerox Ducati rider was three-tenths of a second in front of Yamaha’s Nori Haga, who led surprise front row men Yukio Kagayama and Jacob Smrz in this afternoon’s first qualifying session.
Other big surprises included former MotoGP man Makoto Tamada in sixth place, Max Biaggi (who is riding injured) in 11th and Mr Superpole himself Troy Corser in a lowly 15th. Biaggi’s team-mate Ruben Xaus is running around in 17th place.

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