Troy Bayliss recovered from a freak bicycle accident to lead the field after the first session of World Superbikes qualifying in Assen, Holland.

The two-time world champion was training in Monte Carlo on Wednesday when his push-bike hit a manhole cover, sending the Australian sliding downhill towards oncoming traffic.

Bayliss escaped with cuts and bruises, but ran into further bad luck when his flight to Amsterdam was delayed.

When he finally arrived at the track, the 39-year-old underwent a precautionary medical, before jumping aboard his considerably more dangerous Ducati 1098 F08 and getting back to what he does best.

A lap time of 1.39.677 saw him finish the session ahead of Yamaha's Noriyuki Haga in second, with Yukio Kagayama of Suzuki third fastest.

Bayliss leads the 2008 WSBK championship with 128 points, with Fonsi Nieto in second place on 80.

Nieto was fifth fastest in qualifying with lap time of 1.40.195.

World Superbike - Q1

1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1'39.677

2. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'40.009

3. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'40.036

4. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'40.064

5. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'40.195

6. Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'40.278

7. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1'40.375

8. Neukirchner M. (GER)Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'40.409

9. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.496

10. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'40.520

11. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'40.673

12. Muggeridge K. (AUS)Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.695

13. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.745

14. Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'40.746

15. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'40.778

16. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'40.817

Will Tidey / Eurosport