Bayliss ends career with double

From worldsbk.com

Troy Bayliss wound up his Superbike career, and the 2008 FIM Superbike World Championship, with a spectacular double win in the final round at the Portimao circuit in Portugal in front of 91,000 spectators on Sunday.

The first race was totally dominated by Bayliss, who powered into the lead at the start and was never seen again. The triple world champion's margin over his pursuers was just over two seconds at the flag but it had been much wider throughout the race.

There was a terrific scrap for the remaining podium places, the right choice of Pirelli tire making all the difference and in the end it was Carlos Checa who came on strong to take the runner-up slot from Troy Corser.

The outcome for fourth place was also uncertain until the flag, and it eventually went to Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), making his WSBK debut. Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare) recovered well to finish fifth, ahead of another Spaniard, Gregorio Lavilla (VentAxia Honda) and Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda).

Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) crashed out while trying to reach the leading group, while Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) both retired a few corners in after a clash.

The second race saw another totally dominant win from Bayliss, who bows out after a season in which the Australian clearly proved to be the strongest rider out there. Ducati's triumphant day was completed with a second place for Fabrizio while the final podium place went to Haslam, who got the better of Neukirchner in the final stages.

Thanks to a sixth place behind Nieto, Corser finished runner-up in the championship, taking advantage of a ride-through penalty for Noriyuki Haga for a jump start.

Régis Laconi scored a good result in 10th for Kawasaki, while Biaggi could only finish in 13th place.

Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) made a victorious return to the Supersport class. The Turkish rider, 2007 World Champion, after a few laps settling in, took control of the race and went on to win by a wide margin over his future teammate Andrew Pitt, who won this year's title.

It was a terrific battle for third between Joan Lascorz (Glaner Motocard.com Honda) and Josh Hayes (Parkalgar Honda), with the win going to the Spaniard in a sprint finish. Fifth went to Broc Parkes, best Yamaha to the chequered flag, while Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Honda Althea) finished sixth.

The deciding race for the Superstock 1000 category proved to be an exciting one, as Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) powered to the win and the title. The young Australian also gained an advantage from a crash by points leader Xavier Simeon (Suzuki Alstare), which allowed him an easy run to the title.

Second place went to another Australian Chris Seaton (Celani Suzuki) ahead of Maxime Berger (Hannspree IDS Ten Kate Honda), another of the stars of this season.

The Superstock 600 race was also decided in a sprint finish, with the win going to British rider Gino Rea (Stonebaker Yamaha). Rea got the better of his French rival Loris Baz (Yamaha YZF Junior Team), who won the title this year.

Race One Results
1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 38:48.373 (156,198 km/h)
2. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +2.207
3. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 +6.972
4. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +15.228
5. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +16.126
6. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +18.152
7. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +18.939
8. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR +20.942
9. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +32.018
10. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +32.871
11. Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.778
12. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR +36.848
13. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 +41.667
14. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR +41.806
15. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +48.337
16. Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 +50.295

Race Two Results
1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 38:26.125 (157.705 km/h)
2. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 +3.638
3. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +4.356
4. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +4.983
5. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +6.775
6. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 +7.403
7. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +7.578
8. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +16.113
9. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +16.284
10. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +16.446
11. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR +21.633
12. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +22.098
13. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +24.089
14. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 +24.117
15. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +31.003
16. Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +31.136

Final Point Standings
1. Bayliss (Ducati) 460
2. Corser (Yamaha) 342
3. Haga (Yamaha) 327
4. Checa (Honda) 313
5. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 311
6. Nieto (Suzuki) 256
7. Biaggi (Ducati) 238
8. Fabrizio (Ducati) 223
9. Kiyonari (Honda) 206
10. Xaus (Ducati) 178