Fresh from his win with Kawasaki in Australia, Jonathan Rea has kicked off the second round of the World Superbike Championship as he means to go on by topping first free practice at the Chang International Circuit by seven tenths of a second.
The first time World Superbikes have sampled the Thai venue, the specially extended session would see Rea move front after 40mins with a 1min 35.920secs lap, the Ulsterman proceeding to better his effort twice more to stop the clock in a best time of 1min 35.004secs.
Indeed, with Rea commanding a substantial seven tenths advantage over team-mate Tom Sykes, only the two Kawasaki riders were able to crack 1min 36secs, with all but the Englishman a second adrift or more adrift of the pace setter.
Jordi Torres was third fastest – the Spaniard breaking the 300km/h barrier in the process - after a late improvement on the Red Devils Aprilia, ahead of Chaz Davies on the Aruba.it Ducati, who suffered a tumble, and Alex Lowes on the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki.
Behind them, Aprilia's Leon Haslam led his replacement at PATA Honda, Michael van der Mark, in sixth and seventh while David Salom was a noteworthy eighth best in his first session since a high-speed accident in Australia left him with a series of injuries.
Barni Ducati rider Leandro Mercado and reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli rounded out the top ten, edging out Sylvain Barrier, Randy de Puniet, Nico Terol and Troy Bayliss, the former champion proving a respectable 14th fastest on his continuing return to action.
Chaz Davies is looking to carry his early momentum from the season opener in Australia to the new Chang International Circuit in Thailand, which hosts the second round of the 2015 World Superbike season.
The Welshman notched up back-to-back podiums at Phillip Island and feels even more motivated for the season ahead thanks to his two third place finishes.
“After the results achieved in Australia, I'm feeling even more motivated and am looking forward to getting back to work this weekend and seeing what we can do,” Davies said.
The Thai round is brand new to the World Superbike championship and is a venture into the relative unknown for Davies, who has only visited the Chang International circuit once before while touring the region with his Ducati team.
It will be a fresh challenge for all the teams and riders but with the Aruba.it Ducati rider full of confidence ahead of Thai WSBK round he will be one of favourites to grab the maiden victory around the new circuit.
“I had the chance to visit the circuit while visiting Ducati Thailand in January this year,” Davies said. “It looks like an amazing facility and a great track and I'm always keen to race at new circuits.”
Davies currently sits third in the WSBK riders' standings after the first round and will once again be joined by three-time WSBK champion Troy Bayliss who will continue to fill in for the injured Davide Giugliano.
Troy Bayliss says he cannot wait to get back on the Aruba.it Ducati Panigale R after being given another chance to ride in the World Superbike Championship.
The former champion made a shock return to the series on home soil at Phillip Island last month after putting himself forward as a late replacement for the injured Davide Giugliano.
With Giugliano still out of action a month later, Bayliss has been called up again, this time to sample the brand-new Chang International Circuit in Thailand.
Having put in a respectable performance in Australia given his lengthy time off the bike and in a racing environment, Bayliss feels better prepared for this shot, particularly as it will be held at a venue no other rider has previously sampled before.
“Firstly I'd like to thank the team for giving me another chance to ride the Panigale R. I'm excited to get back on track, and at what is a brand new circuit for everyone, so we'll all start on a level playing field. I've been training hard in recent weeks and am feeling well prepared for the challenge. I can't wait to get started.
Troy Bayliss rolled back the years and says he used tactics from seven years ago which were able to do the same trick during free practice at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand.
The former three-time World Superbike champion finished the day seventh fastest overall with a quick time of 1m 35.690s, on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R and was relatively satisfied by the developments made during the day. The Australian rider was constantly making small tweaks to his bike throughout both sessions which saw him make significant gains each time.
“We had a few little dramas this morning that meant that it took us a little while to get going,” Bayliss said. “I was feeling ok but nothing really special in the first practice. I knew we'd be able to more this afternoon on the softer tyre and I was right, able to go immediately quicker.
“Then we made a change mid-session, a change that also used to help us in the past, and I was able to make some quick laps, with my fastest lap coming on a tyre that had done 13 laps. So I'm really happy now, when I got off the bike I felt like I did seven years ago.”
Bayliss finished one second off pace-setter Alex Lowes and remains confident ahead of the second round of the 2015 World Superbike championship.
The 45-year-old rider is acting as cover for the injured Davide Giugliano. Bayliss also raced in place of Giugliano for the World Superbike championship season opener at Phillip Island, marking a return to racing after retiring in 2008.
I just meant it's not bad for a 45-year old who until last race weekend at PI hasn't raced a superbike for 6 years at this level in a sport that's dominated by youngsters (sort of...Guintoli did win after all last year )
I believe Checa was older then Guintoli and Bayliss when he won on the Ducati.
Bayliss has done a great job, love him and his attitude.
My point of course goes back to the age old argument we keep having here… once you know how to win, it's a lot easier to re-create the magic of success.
I'm at the track all weekend, so argue amongst yourselves.
.....................................SPOILER............................
In more ways than one!!!
Lets hear it for Bayliss!!! My new hero!!!
Actually have had an official signed 8x10 Ducati Photo of Bayliss, taken in 2007/2008. Proudly hangs on my wall!!
I even have more good reasons to qualify him for my all time Racing Hero, as he made Superpole 2 this weekend!
Am I reading this correctly? Tye stated that Bayliss has won many championships since retiring from WSBK, then Freighttrain asked him to name them, then Tye changed the subject and went away?
I'm not sure what other Championships Bayliss has won either......
Maybe The is away researching this......I'm sure he will be back soon letting us all know what they were..!
Freighttrain - As a Brit myself......I'll be watching them....which one to win....Rea and Haslem look fast....VDM will crash....Lowes will be up there.....Sykes.....Davies.....??!!
No Championships 219 this year I doubt.....but the Panigale is right up there with the front runners.....Chaz Davies is an experienced pilot and if he keeps it upright he'll pick up the pieces from when the others fall over themselves. I think the front end issues he had this weekend stem from him thinking he should be running with Rea and Haslem......
Oh good!!! Maybe now we will be educated on all those Championships Bayliss acquired since his retirement from WSBK six years ago!!! .....Just sayin....
Baiocco top Ducati in both races....who the fuck is Baiocco??? lol Kind of disappointed in Terol. Being a Moto 2 race winner, I figured he'd be a lot better, similarly to Torres, but he hasn't shown anything so far. Rea cleaned out though...he's kicking ass...not really liking that :/
On another note, the WSS race had a great ending. Though not the most exciting race, you gotta feel for Wilairot and the whole of Thailand! Couldn't have had a better day! And good for PJ Jacobsen representing the US! Hopefully he continues at that pace.
BeinTV didn't air WSS here - I hope that's not gonna be the norm this year.
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