Pole for Bayliss as Toseland falls - Super Troys Oz Masters at Vallelunga Superpole

Troy Bayliss claimed pole position for the penultimate round of the World
Superbike Championship at Vallelunga in Italy, while Britain's James
Toseland crashed to leave himself way back in eighth.

Toseland, 26, who can be crowned as world champion for the second time
this weekend if results go his way, was chasing the top spot on his
Superpole lap when he lost the front end of his Ten Kate Honda at a slow
left-hander and fell to the floor.

Despite failing to set a time, a rule change put in place at the start of the
season will see him start both races from eighth, by virtue of his time in
regular qualifying.

His crash left the way clear for Troy Corser to put himself into the top
spot. But that did not last long either as reigning world champion Bayliss
guided his Ducati around the track in a brilliant 1:35.890.

It was enough to give the 38-year-old Australian his sixth pole of the
season and the 18th of his career by just 0.126 seconds from his
compatriot Corser, on a Motor Italia Yamaha.

Ruben Xaus' Sterilgada Ducati and the Alstare Suzuki of local hero Max
Biaggi, who needs to beat Toseland in both races to retain his title chances
into the Magny-Cours season finale, completed the front row.

Corser's team-mate Noriyuki Haga, who will keep his title hopes alive by
being within nine points of Toseland's weekend haul, headed the second
row with Lorenzo Lanzi's Ducati and Michel Fabrizio's DFX Honda next up.

Behind Toseland, the top ten was completed by his team-mate Roberto
Rolfo and Shinichi Nakatomi, who took his Yamaha France entry into a
career-best tenth place. uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

Vallelunga, Italy, September 29, 2007
Vallelunga Superbike Superpole
1. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) 1:35.890
2. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) 1:36.016
3. Ruben Xaus (Spain/Ducati) 1:36.737
4. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) 1:36.925
5. Nori Haga (Japan/Yamaha) 1:36.996
6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Italy/Ducati) 1:37.428
7. Michel Fabrizio Italy/ (Honda) 1:37.430
8. Roby Rolfo (Italy/Honda) 1:37.589
9. Shinichi Nakatomi (Japan/Yamaha) 1:37.775
10. Marco Borciani (Italy/Ducati) 1:37.902
11. Max Neukirchner (Germany/Suzuki) 1:37.942
12. Regis Laconi (French Republic/Kawasaki) 1: 38.067
13. Jakub Smrz (Czech republic/Ducati) 1:38.110
14. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Italy/Kawasaki) 1:38.153
15. Fonsi Nieto (Spain/Kawasaki) 1:38.619
16. James Toseland (Honda) crash

photos from motograndprix.it & yamaha-racing.com