Troy Bayliss, Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus top three in first qualifying at Donington

Troy Bayliss set the fastest lap time of the session. © Ducati Corse. Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) pocketed the new circuit best lap on an SBK weekend with a stunning 1'32.333, with possibly more to come if the weather conditions improve for day two of qualifying tomorrow. Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) also went under the previous best with his 1'32.817 lap time, but he fell towards the end of the session, without significant injury. The wet morning untimed session saw Corser fastest while in the afternoon a narrow dry line, around almost the entire circuit, allowed all riders to improve on their early marks. Both track and air temperatures failed to rise into double figures, with the air temperature only 8°C and the track 7°C.

Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) proved that he still has all the speed of his factory years on his year-old Ducati 999 machine, scoring third fastest lap of the session in tricky conditions. He was just ahead (by only 0.046 seconds) of current championship leader James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda). Toseland's old Ducati team-mate Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was the quickest rider on a Kawasaki, and his inclusion in the day one top five put four different manufacturers into the top five places.

Biaggi signing autographs yesterday at Donington. © Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra. Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) has only recently recovered from a left ankle and foot injury but he still posted sixth fastest time on the opening day. Another rider who was involved in a race to be fit for Donington (Yukio Kagayama from the Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra Team) went seventh quickest before falling and having to visit the medical centre. He was finally declared unfit to ride after examination. His best time was just ahead of the final top ten riders, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia), his team-mate Max Biaggi (who experienced clutch problems with his GSX-R near the end) and a fast rider in the wet morning session, Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).

Giovanni Bussei (Sterilgarda Ducati) was an impressive 11th fastest at Donington after towing his motorcycle to Donington behind a car, in the old-fashioned way. He was just up on countryman Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda), with the top 16 rounded out by Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), Steve Martin (DFX Corse Honda), Muggeridge's team-mate Joshua Brookes and German privateer Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany).

In a wet qualifying session, also held in cold conditions, surprising results were the order of the first day when Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Czech Honda) qualified fastest with WSS rookie rider Davide Giugliano (Kawasaki Lightspeed) second. World championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was third fastest, with replacement rider Arnaud Vincent (Tati Team Beaujolais Yamaha) fourth, just up on local rider and WSS regular Craig Jones (Reve Ekerold Honda Racing).

Of great significance in the championship fight, three top riders fell and suffered injuries in the wet morning session. Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes both fell at the same Goddards corner in different incidents, and each injured their left collarbones, ruling themselves out the Donington race. Reigning champion Sebastien Charpentier hurt his previously injured collarbone and pelvis in another crash, and was finally declared unfit.

Superstock new rider Michele Pirro (Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) was the fastest rider on show at the first session of the opening round of the 2007 season, with his own team-mate Claudio Corti second quickest, from 39 entered riders. Didier Van Keymeulen (TTSL MGM Racing Yamaha) the former champion of this class, was third fastest, with the first Suzuki proving to be that of Ilario Dionisi (Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia). Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) was the best MV rider, fifth fastest. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox 1098) made an impact in his first sessions on the 1098 Ducati, going seventh in the first practice rankings.

Maxime Berger (Team Trasimeno Yamaha) made the best of a drying track to score a 1'38.313 in the 600cc division, and take fastest time of the day. Michele Magnoni (Bevilaqua Yamaha) was next fastest, with local rider Greg Black (Politas Racing Team Yamaha) third. Sylvain Barrier (Coutelle Junior Team Yamaha) rounded out the top four, while Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike Honda) was the first CBR600RR rider on show.