Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss has taken pole position for tomorrow's World Superbike double-header at Vallelunga, pipping countryman Troy Corser by a little over a tenth of a second.

Bayliss was just over two tenths of a second down on the Santander Yamaha man's time at the first split but then clawed back over the rest of the lap to take pole at the line.

Corser looked to have set an all-but-unbeatable time when he lapped at 1'36.730. The Aussie, who has set two poles this year, was the eighth rider to take to the track this afternoon and bumped exiting team-mate Noriyuki Haga down to second.

Sterilgarda's Max Biaggi followed Corser out but couldn't match the speed of either Yamaha rider. Carlos Checa and Ruben Xaus were the next two riders out but both crashed in similar circumstances,losing the front mid-corner.

Ten Kate Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari and Bayliss' team-mate Michel Fabrizio couldn't better Corser's time either, so it was down to Bayliss, who crept in under Corser's time.

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