Australian Troy Bayliss has recovered from a nasty crash during practice for the opening round of the World Superbike Championship to qualify 13th on the grid for his comeback race.

Bayliss was thrown off his factory Ducati Panigale at high-speed during the final practice session at Phillip Island.

Bayliss lost the back end of his Ducati in the final few minutes of the session and was flung hard into the infield, landing on his backside.

The 45-year-old was unhurt, and posted a time of 1:32.201 to be sitting 13th on the grid.

Bayliss is making his comeback this weekend, seven years after retiring.

He will ride in place of Davide Giugliano, who injured his back when he crashed in testing on Monday.

Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Rea has made the best possible start for his new employer Kawasaki by setting pole position for the race in a time of 1:31.212.

It is Rea’s first ever pole position.

He will be joined on the front row of the grid on Sunday for the pair of 22-lap races by fellow Britons Chaz Davies (1:31.238) and Leon Haslam (1:31.507).

They will all have to battle extreme temperatures forecast at 35 degrees, but Rea says he is not worried.

“Honestly for me, the heat is not so bad,” said Rea.

“The problem with the heat is the race is going to be about managing tyres, not really about being the fastest guy.

“But my new Kawasaki team is amazing … no-one owes you anything, but I’m confident that I might be able to push for a win tomorrow.”