Reverend
February 23rd, 2008, 22:53 PM
Troy Bayliss got off to a fine start at the first round of the World Superbike Championship, winning the opening race and finishing fourth in race two.
Bayliss held off Ducati team-mate Max Biaggi in the final lap of race one in Doha, while Troy Corser was third.
Spaniard Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki) then claimed his first championship win in race two with Ducati's Ruben Xaus second and Biaggi a battling third.
Bayliss now leads the early table on 25 points, five ahead of Italy's Biaggi.
Germany's Max Neukirchner dominated the first half of the first race at the Losail International Circuit, with Australian Corser, who had started in pole, and Japan's Noriyuki Haga in close pursuit.
But Haga crashed spectacularly on the seventh of the 18-lap race as he tangled with Biaggi in a battle for third.
After the restart, Bayliss moved through the field to overtake Neukirchner for the lead with 10 laps to go. However, a lap later, the Australian went wide and dropped back to fourth.
Biaggi took over the lead as Neukirchner faltered but four-time Superbike champion Bayliss roared back and on a sensational final lap, he overhauled Biaggi twice before crossing the line to win.
Corser finished third with Spaniard Ruben Xaus fourth and Neukirchner fifth while Haga remounted to finish with two points in 14th.
In the second race, Nieto clocked a best lap time of 1 minute, 59.156 seconds as he powered home to victory.
Race 1 result:
1. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Ducati
3. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha
4. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
5. Max Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki
6. Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda
Race 2 result:
1. Fonsi Nieto (Spa) Suzuki
2. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
3. Max Biaggi (Ita) Ducati
4. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
5. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ita) Ducati
Championship standings:
1. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 38 pts
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Ducati 36 pts
3. Fonsi Nieto (Spa) Suzuki 34 pts
4. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati 33 pts
5. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha 25 pts
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7260723.stm)
Bayliss held off Ducati team-mate Max Biaggi in the final lap of race one in Doha, while Troy Corser was third.
Spaniard Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki) then claimed his first championship win in race two with Ducati's Ruben Xaus second and Biaggi a battling third.
Bayliss now leads the early table on 25 points, five ahead of Italy's Biaggi.
Germany's Max Neukirchner dominated the first half of the first race at the Losail International Circuit, with Australian Corser, who had started in pole, and Japan's Noriyuki Haga in close pursuit.
But Haga crashed spectacularly on the seventh of the 18-lap race as he tangled with Biaggi in a battle for third.
After the restart, Bayliss moved through the field to overtake Neukirchner for the lead with 10 laps to go. However, a lap later, the Australian went wide and dropped back to fourth.
Biaggi took over the lead as Neukirchner faltered but four-time Superbike champion Bayliss roared back and on a sensational final lap, he overhauled Biaggi twice before crossing the line to win.
Corser finished third with Spaniard Ruben Xaus fourth and Neukirchner fifth while Haga remounted to finish with two points in 14th.
In the second race, Nieto clocked a best lap time of 1 minute, 59.156 seconds as he powered home to victory.
Race 1 result:
1. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Ducati
3. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha
4. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
5. Max Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki
6. Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda
Race 2 result:
1. Fonsi Nieto (Spa) Suzuki
2. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
3. Max Biaggi (Ita) Ducati
4. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
5. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ita) Ducati
Championship standings:
1. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 38 pts
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Ducati 36 pts
3. Fonsi Nieto (Spa) Suzuki 34 pts
4. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati 33 pts
5. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha 25 pts
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7260723.stm)