Ducati Xerox driver Troy Bayliss blazed towards victory lane riding his Ducati 1098 F08 with the radical engine mount in the first race of the 2008 World Superbike Championship this week. The latest F08 machine achieved an outstanding result for the Ducati Xerox team.

According to Ducati Racing News, Bayliss then barely failed to spot on a podium spot on the second race, bagging fourth place just ahead of team-mate Fabrizio. The young gun Michel Fabrizio completed a firm start in the season by marking 18 championship points in Qatar.

“It’s a very good start to the season for the team, exactly what we needed! Overall I’m very happy with the results. In race 1 I didn’t make the greatest start and so it took me a while to make it to the front of the pack. The last eight laps were a bit of a battle against Max but I was finally able to get past him and, although I made a couple of small mistakes, I was pretty comfortable and took the win. I would have loved to take another podium in race 2 but it wasn’t to be and I come away from this round leading the championship by 2 points so I can’t exactly complain. Now I’m ready to move on to Phillip Island where I hope to have another great weekend,” says Troy Bayliss.

“I wasn’t happy with race 1 as although I didn’t have any problems with the bike I wasn’t totally comfortable with my leather suit. I think I could have gone better if it hadn’t been for that issue. Race 2 went much better and although I got a bad start I was able to move up through the field from ninth to fifth place. Anyway, we’ve made a good start and I am seventh in the championship after the first round so that’s a positive start for me and the team I would say,” says Michel Fabrizio.