Reverend
September 30th, 2007, 19:01 PM
The World Superbikes title race will go to the final weekend of the season after leader James Toseland had a mixed day at Vallelunga in Italy.
The Ten Kate Honda rider finished third and 11th in Sunday's two rounds, won by Suzuki's Max Biaggi and Ducati's Troy Bayliss respectively.
Toseland goes into the last weekend, at Magny Cours on 7 October, with a 29point lead and 50 points up for grabs. The British rider's nearest rival is now Suzuki rider Max Biaggi.
Toseland began race one from eighth on the grid and did well to avoid the aftermath of the crash which put Troy Corser out of the race.
He settled into fourth place and came close to catching third-placed Noriyuki Haga on the penultimate lap, but had to settle for a place just off the podium and a result which saw him stretch his championship lead to 44 points.
Race two was a harder affair, with traction control problems causing Toseland to crash out on lap nine.
He soon rejoined the race and battled through to finish 11th, picking up five points. But with Bayliss, Biaggi and Haga all racking up the points, it set up a grand finale in France.
Afterwards, Toseland said he may have paid the price for his haste in returning after Saturday's Superpole crash.
"The guys made a great job of rebuilding my number one bike after the Superpole crash and I chose to ride it," he said. "This was my decision and maybe it wasn't the best decision because we struggled to get the traction control working.
Having said all that, we've come out of today with a 29 point advantage. If someone had told me at the start of the season that that would the case I'd have been happy with that so it's not that bad."
Race one result:
1. M Biaggi (Suzuki)
2. T Bayliss (Ducati)
3. J Toseland (Honda)
4. N Haga (Yamaha)
5. M Fabrizio (Honda)
6. L Lanzi (Ducati)
7. R Laconi (Kawasaki)
8. F Nieto (Kawasaki)
Race two result:
1. T Bayliss (Ducati)
2. M Biaggi (Suzuki)
3. N Haga (Yamaha)
4. T Corser (Yamaha)
5. R Rolfo (Honda)
6. R Xaus (Ducati)
7. L Lanzi (Ducati)
8. F Nieto (Kawasaki)
Championship standings:
1. J Toseland (GB) 396 pts
2. M Biaggi (It) 367
3. N Haga (Jpn) 363
4. T Bayliss (Aus) 341
5. T Corser (Aus) 267
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7021062.stm)
The Ten Kate Honda rider finished third and 11th in Sunday's two rounds, won by Suzuki's Max Biaggi and Ducati's Troy Bayliss respectively.
Toseland goes into the last weekend, at Magny Cours on 7 October, with a 29point lead and 50 points up for grabs. The British rider's nearest rival is now Suzuki rider Max Biaggi.
Toseland began race one from eighth on the grid and did well to avoid the aftermath of the crash which put Troy Corser out of the race.
He settled into fourth place and came close to catching third-placed Noriyuki Haga on the penultimate lap, but had to settle for a place just off the podium and a result which saw him stretch his championship lead to 44 points.
Race two was a harder affair, with traction control problems causing Toseland to crash out on lap nine.
He soon rejoined the race and battled through to finish 11th, picking up five points. But with Bayliss, Biaggi and Haga all racking up the points, it set up a grand finale in France.
Afterwards, Toseland said he may have paid the price for his haste in returning after Saturday's Superpole crash.
"The guys made a great job of rebuilding my number one bike after the Superpole crash and I chose to ride it," he said. "This was my decision and maybe it wasn't the best decision because we struggled to get the traction control working.
Having said all that, we've come out of today with a 29 point advantage. If someone had told me at the start of the season that that would the case I'd have been happy with that so it's not that bad."
Race one result:
1. M Biaggi (Suzuki)
2. T Bayliss (Ducati)
3. J Toseland (Honda)
4. N Haga (Yamaha)
5. M Fabrizio (Honda)
6. L Lanzi (Ducati)
7. R Laconi (Kawasaki)
8. F Nieto (Kawasaki)
Race two result:
1. T Bayliss (Ducati)
2. M Biaggi (Suzuki)
3. N Haga (Yamaha)
4. T Corser (Yamaha)
5. R Rolfo (Honda)
6. R Xaus (Ducati)
7. L Lanzi (Ducati)
8. F Nieto (Kawasaki)
Championship standings:
1. J Toseland (GB) 396 pts
2. M Biaggi (It) 367
3. N Haga (Jpn) 363
4. T Bayliss (Aus) 341
5. T Corser (Aus) 267
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7021062.stm)