Image: Russell Colvin.

DesmoSport Ducati’s Troy Bayliss has soared to his first pole position of the 2018 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin.

At 49 years of age, triple world champion Bayliss proved age is no barrier at this level to set a record-breaking lap in qualifying one this morning.

Bayliss’ benchmark came at 1m05.601s – the first rider beneath the 1m06s bracket – to top Friday pace-setter Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) by 0.270s. It was the latter who topped the charts in this afternoon’s session, but it wasn’t enough to deny Bayliss of the pole.

Joining them on the front row of the grid will be opening round victor Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance), his 1m06s flat lap-time edging Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team) and reigning champion Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar) to make five different manufacturers in the top five.

Sixth came the second of the Yamahas in Daniel Falzon, while leading privateer Jamie Stauffer (McMartin Racing Ducati) slotted into P7. Glenn Allerton (Next Gen Motorsports BMW), top rookie Mark Chiodo (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Matt Walters (Swann Insurance Kawasaki) completed the top 10.

Detailed results