Up to eight riders run in 1'32", close times for this first test of the WSBK 2008 season in Phillip Island. Yukio Kagayama set the fastest time of all three days as Aussie Troy Bayliss fell at the bottom of MG broking his collarbone. Two times World SBK Champion will be fit for the start of the season in Qatar.

© FIM. Suzuki Yoshimura with Jomo 34 put an end to a series of ten victories by Honda at Suzuka today.

© Honda Pro Images. The Honda HRC 11 of Ryuichi Kiyonari and James Toseland took the plaudits in Friday's qualifying sessions for the ‘Coca Cola Zero' Suzuka 8 Hours.

© FGsport. Spaniard Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda) has already won an SBK this season and he forced his name to the top of another results sheet at Vallelunga, after scoring the fastest time in the official tests.

© Ducati Corse. The Silverstone race weekend kicked off in dry conditions but by the time the first qualifying session had started lunchtime rains had left a wet track for all 21 riders to contend with.

© HANNspree Ten Kate Honda. It is only apt that the former airfield circuit of Silverstone will have its weekend on-track action publicised by an aerobatic display at nearby Sywell Aerodrome on the Thursday proceeding race weekend proper.

© Suzuki Racing. Noriyuki Haga brought a perfect homecoming present to Italy for his Monza-based team after scoring the Superpole win, a new lap record and - most importantly of all - the first ever double win this year.

© Yamaha Racing. From third last away in the Superpole competition Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) sent the sun-kissed Monza crowd wild after demolishing not just the previous track record but by also taking SBK racing into new Monza territory with a 1'44.

© HANNspree Ten Kate Honda. It took series leader James Toseland less than a day to beat the previous circuit best at the classically designed Monza circuit, setting a 1'45"953 lap on race tyres.

© HANNspree Ten Kate Honda. One of the true spiritual homes of racing, Monza, is not just a link to racing's past glories; it is a unique challenge on the modern day SBK calendar.

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Max Biaggi and team mate Yukio Kagayama are looking forward to Assen for different reasons.

© Honda Pro Image. After two very different 23-lap races at Valencia local rider Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) and championship leader James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) scored a win apiece, with Xaus running clear in race one but Toseland having to fight for every inch of track in race two.

© Circuit Valencia. The Spanish rain stayed mainly in the plains of Valencia before Superpole and this the 'wet' rules were introduced, giving each of the top 16 riders 12-laps in which to set their best time, and earn their final grid spot.

© Ducati Corse. Despite losing most of his right little finger in a race one crash at Donington Park two weeks ago, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) proved not only fit to ride at Valencia but capable of the best ever SBK time on day one.

© Alstare Suzuki. The second of five SBK rounds in relatively close succession is the fourth round of what has been an exciting championship season so far.

Troy Bayliss set the pace in first qualifying for the European Round of the World Superbike Championship at a cold and damp Donington Park today.

© Ducati Corse. Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) pocketed the new circuit best lap on an SBK weekend with a stunning 1'32.