Toseland leader after second win

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Britain's James Toseland maintained his fine start to the World Superbikes championship with victory and a second place in Phillip Island, Australia.

Toseland matched his results from the opening round in Qatar to move into the lead in the overall standings.

Defending champion Troy Bayliss swooped past Toseland, who finished second, late on to take the opening race. Toseland reversed the placings in race two to go 16 points clear of Max Biaggi overall, who finished third and fourth.

The 26-year-old Toseland was relieved to have held off the Australian Bayliss by just 0.274 seconds in the second race.

"I thought he was going get me," said the Yorkshireman. "All I could hear was that Ducati in my ears, so I covered my lines better.

"He came past once, but I got him back. I lost race one because Troy is really good here and I used my tyres up too much, but I didn't want it to happen again."

Bayliss, who is a further 10 points adrift of Italian Biaggi in the overall standings, acknowledged the threat Toseland poses to his title chances.

"I threw everything at James that I had, every trick that I know and he still beat me on the day in the second race," Bayliss said.

"I know he's going to be my main threat this year in the championship.

"James rode very smart this afternoon and looked after his tire. He was pretty much in control.

"I was completely riding as fast as I could and I'm sure James must have been on the limit as well, but there was nothing I could do about it."

Race one:
1. T Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
1. J Toseland (GB) Honda
3. M Biaggi (It) Suzuki
4. N Haga (Jpn) Yamaha
5. T Corser (Aus) Yamaha
6. L Lanzi (It) Ducati
7. R Xaus (Sp) Ducati
8. M Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki
9. F Nieto (Sp) Kawasaki
10. S Martin (Aus)

Race two:
1. J Toseland (GB) Honda
2. T Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
3. N Haga (Jpn) Yamaha
4. M Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki
5. T Corser (Aus) Yamaha
6. R Xaus (Spa) Ducati
7. L Lanzi (Ita) Ducati
8. M Fabrizio (Ita) Honda
9. M Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki
10. R Rolfo (Ita) Honda

Championship standings:
1. J Toseland (GB) 90 pts
2. M Biaggi (Ita) 74
3. T Bayliss (Aus) 64
4. N Haga (Jpn) 50
5. T Corser (Aus) 45
6. L Lanzi (Ita) 44
7. R Xaus (Spa) Ducati 32
8. M Neukirchner (Ger) 31
9. Y Kagayama (Jpn) 23
10. F Nieto (Spa) 20

BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6410673.stm)

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WOW what a great couple of races!! I was working on Turn Six (Siberia) as track marshal... Bayliss was playing with Toseland in race 1, letting him pass etc.. but then stormed with in slipstream with a few laps to go!!

It really warmed up late in the arvo, and track was melting the tires really quick. I was picking up chunks of spent rubber all afternoon! Second race, no one had tires left, squiring through 120mph corner!!

I'll post pics soon. I was cheering for Max (Roman Emperor) Biagi.. lol, the commentators were harassing him the whole weekend. He did a good job for third in first race.. but spent tires in second dropped him down.

Ahh.. Nitro Hagga... he raced really well, nice and clean, unlike his normal Tokyo drifting techniques! hehe

Cheers

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Hagga... he raced really well, nice and clean, unlike his normal Tokyo drifting techniques! heheHaga racing nice and clean. That can't be right. :D

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Yeah, that's what surprised the commentators as well! Even with worn-out tires at the end of the second race, he kept it clean and tidy - was only a couple of seconds from the podium! hehe.

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Here's on a couple of pics
Superbike Pics (http://picasaweb.google.com.au/Adam.Bevilacqua/SuperBike2007)

I have some vids of interviews with Bayliss, Toseland and Corser. But they're AVI ~ 30mb... might have to youtube them

:D