Troy Bayliss on provisional pole

Troy Bayliss showed that he will not relinquish his world title
without a fight by taking provisional pole position for the latest
rounds of the World Superbike Championship at Lausitz.

The 38-year-old Australian is 97 points behind Britain's James
Toseland and will almost certainly be unable to retain his title
unless he collects a double win in Germany this weekend.

But he showed he has lost none of his speed by lapping the circuit
in 1:38.569 on his Ducati, out-pacing Troy Corser's Motor Italia
Yamaha by 0.211 seconds.

Alstare Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama, who won one of the two
races at the track last year, and Noriyuki Haga on a Motor Italia
Yamaha, completed the provisional row.

British superstar Toseland, who can wrap up the title this
weekend if he wins both races and results elsewhere go his way,
was fifth quickest on his Ten Kate Honda.

Ruben Xaus' Sterilgada Ducati, Max Biaggi's Alstare Suzuki and
Michel Fabrizio's DFX Honda were next up.

And the top ten was completed by Karl Muggeridge's Alto
Evolution Honda and Lorenzo Lanzi's Ducati.

Steve Martin, who has switched over from Yamaha France to
replace Stefano Cruciani at Celani Suzuki, was 18th, one spot
ahead of the Alto Evolution Honda of debutant Yoann Tiberio.

Britain's Dean Ellison was 22nd and last on his Pedercini Ducati,
6.5 seconds off the pace. uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

1. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) 1'38.569
2. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) 1'38.780
3. Yukio Kagayama (Japan/Suzuki) 1'38.980
4. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) 1'39.011
5. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) 1'39.086
6. Ruben Xaus (Spain/Ducati) 1'39.127
7. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) 1'39.433
8. Michel Fabrizio (Italy/Honda) 1'39.487
9. Karl Muggeridge (Australia/Honda) 1'39.525
10. Lorenzo Lanzi (Italy/Ducati) 1'39.639