Bayliss clinches third World Title

From worldsbk.com

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) clinched the FIM Superbike World Championship for the third time Sunday after finishing third in race one at Magny-Cours in front of 78,000 spectators. The Australian rider then celebrated his title in the best possible way by winning race two.

"This last championship has been up and down the whole year," Bayliss said, "everyone has been fast but a little bit inconsistent and that made it easier for me. Halfway through the year we were very confident but it was a case of not losing the title rather than winning it."

Victory in race one and second place in race two went to Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), who moves into second place in the table, with just the final round at Portimao (Portugal) remaining on Nov. 2. With Sunday's results, Ducati also celebrates its 15th Manufacturers' title.

The opening race was dominated by Haga, with his third win in a row, the Japanese rider finishing 6" ahead of Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare), who had a good race to finish runner-up, and Bayliss, who stayed out of trouble to take the title.

Fourth went to Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), who came on strong towards the end.

Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) was fifth, followed by Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who faded with tire problems after a good early part.

Three laps from the end Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) crashed out while fighting for a podium place with Nieto and Bayliss, while Frenchman Régis Laconi took his PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki to a respectable 11th place.

"It's a great result, the bike is working very well," Haga said. "During this weekend the weather was not so good but my team made a good set-up on the bike for me and I had a very comfortable feeling riding it."

Bayliss and Haga thrashed out a duel for the entire second race, but two laps before the end the newly-crowned champion made his attack and went on to conclude a triumphant day with the win.

Third place on the podium went to Corser, who also rode an attacking race, with Checa finishing fourth.

There was a terrific scrap for fifth between Sterilgarda teammates Ruben Xaus and Biaggi, with the Spaniard getting the edge in a sprint finish with the Italian.

The second race was not so good for the Suzuki riders, with Yukio Kagayama, Nieto and Neukirchner finishing in that order behind Biaggi.

Roberto Rolfo (Honda Althea) and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati RG) both finished in the points, but it was a race to forget for Fabrizio, who only finished 14th.

"It was a great race in the end," Bayliss said. "We made one change and put on a harder front tire for the second race. The grip was similar but more consistent during the race. I was struggling on the exits to the tight corner, losing a bit to Nori, but it's always like this. You lose some and gain some. I gave it my all, there wasn't much to lose, I put three good laps together at the end and it was a great win."

The Supersport title was also assigned immediately after the SBK race, and it went to another Australian, Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who took the win.

Pitt, who won the same title seven years ago, benefitted from a contact between Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda), Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport), which eliminated two of his rivals for the title, even though Rea remounted to finish 10th.

In the race, Pitt was followed home by a fast improving Barry Veneman (RES Software Suzuki), who held off a late attack by Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda) and Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Czech Honda).

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) and Gianluca Nannelli (Honda Althea) took the next two places, with Roccoli getting the edge on the last lap.

Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport), returning to the track after his crash at Brno, ran well to finish in eighth place.

In the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, Matej Smrz (MS Racing Honda) took his first win of the season, the Czech rider getting the better in a hectic final few laps over Frenchman Freddy Foray (Coutelle Suzuki) and Claudio Corti (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team).

There were upsets for the four riders fighting for the title, which will now go down the wire in Portimao. The best finisher was Alex Polita (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), who finished fourth, ahead of the new points leader Xavier Simeon (Suzuki Alstare).

Out of the points was Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) with gearbox problems, while Maxime Berger (Hannspree IDS Ten Kate Honda) could only finish 11th.

All four are separated by nine points and still have a chance of taking the title.

Race One Results

1. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 38:33.367 (157.878 km/h)
2. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +6.223
3. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 +6.875
4. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +7.237
5. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +8.925
6. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 +10.714
7. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +16.176
8. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +22.661
9. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR +27.224
10. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +31.300
11. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +35.558
12. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR +35.774
13. Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 +36.078
14. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 +36.289
15. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +40.472
16. Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +40.497

Race Two Results
1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 38:33.579 (157.864 km/h)
2. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.909
3. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 +2.966
4. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +7.175
5. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +12.822
6. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +13.004
7. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +18.876
8. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.512
9. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.627
10. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR +21.425
11. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +25.133
12. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +30.538
13. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +35.334
14. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 +38.453
15. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +40.008
16. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 40.802.

Point Standings (after 13 of 14 rounds)
1. Bayliss (Ducati) 410
2. Haga (Yamaha) 325
3. Corser (Yamaha) 316
4. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298
5. Checa (Honda) 284
6. Biaggi (Ducati) 235
7. Nieto (Suzuki) 234
8. Fabrizio (Ducati) 203
9. Kiyonari (Honda) 193
10. Xaus (Ducati) 171