Bayliss heads the field aroung the new Assen layout

He was only followed into the 1'39s by his own team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi

Bayliss was only followed into the 1'39s by his own team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi. © Ducati Xerox. Having recently confirmed that he will ride for his current Ducati factory squad for two more seasons, 2001 World Champion Troy Bayliss set about the first day of work at Assen with some relish, leading the field for the majority of the first qualifying hour before setting an unbeatable lap of 139"336 near the end of the session. He was only followed into the 1'39" by his own team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi, who set an opening day personal best of 1'39"888 at the new-look 4.555km Assen circuit.

With rain always a possibility at Assen, it was important for the top riders to post a fast first day time, in case the second and final regulation qualifying session dawns wet. Thus the competition from third place to 16th place was covered by less than a second. In third place on the timesheets Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda) posted a 1'40"171, 0.8 seconds behind Bayliss. James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) pushed his way to fourth, despite losing time in the first section of the track; the modified and shortened section.

With a new crew chief to oversee operations, Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) scored fifth fastest time on his first visit to the new Assen, holding off the close attentions of top Yamaha qualifier, Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia). Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) was an assured seventh and top Ducati privateer proved to be former Assen race winner, Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik), blooding the nose of many riders on ostensibly faster machines.

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) made a relatively safe Superpole qualifying performance on day one, leading Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) on the time sheets by 0.134 seconds. Top Kawasaki rider on day one was Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) 11th, but ahead of first day toiler, Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra). Seldom has the third row held so much proven race-winning talent.

Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) eased into his task on day one at Assen, finishing just a second down on second place qualifying position, and second in the Kawasaki rankings. His team-mate Fonsi Nieto was 14th, while the DFX Treme Honda squad put two riders into the top 16, when Pierfrancesco Chili rode to 15th. Last rider in the provisional qualifying top 16 was Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France Ipone).

Ivan Clementi (Pedercini Ducati) gave his Pedercini squad a morale boosting start to the weekend scoring 17th fastest time from 28 qualifiers. Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) was just outside the Superpole arena also, 18th fastest, with Roberto Rolfo (Ducati SC Caracchi) scoring 19th place, and privateer entrant Vittorio Iannuzzo (Celani Team Suzuki), 20th. Max Neukirchner (Alstare Engineering Corona Extra) scored 23rd on day one of his championship return. Kurtis Roberts (Pedercini Ducati) was 27th, with the Petronas of Steve Martin 22nd, having set only 15 laps.
(FGSport)