Bayliss
and Toseland share SBK wins
(World SuperBike Release)
BRILLIANT RACES WOW RECORD AUSSIE CROWDS Phillip Island provided the perfect
backdrop for two of the best Superbike races ever witnessed at the classic
track, with Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) winning the first from James Toseland
(Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) then Toseland took the second race win from Bayliss.
Up to five riders were involved in the fight for podium places, with each race
coming down to a man-to-man fight over the last few laps. Toseland now leads
the championship by 16 points, 90-74, over Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona
Extra).
RACE ONE - 22 LAPS A three-rider fight for the win became a two-rider duel
nearer the end, but the first race of the day finally became the property of
Bayliss, who beat Toseland by just over two seconds with a late spurt of pace.
Third came Biaggi after early leading light Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia)
dropped down as tire wear affected his Yamaha more than some other machines.
He finished fifth, behind his team-mate Noriyuki Haga. Corser set a new lap
record, 1'31.826, which would last the day.
RACE TWO A second race rolling maul at the front saw Toseland get his revenge
by injecting a sudden burst of final pace which only Bayliss could stay with,
but not overhaul on the last sector of the track. Toseland held on well to
record a margin of victory of only 0.274 seconds. Behind, a superb battle for
the last podium of the day went to Haga, with Corser attempting to block the
last corner manoeuvre of Biaggi, albeit unsuccessfully. In the championship
chase, Bayliss is now third on 64 points, Haga fourth on 50, and Corser fifth
on 45.
LANZI AND XAUS SHARE DUCATI DISPUTES Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) overcame the
charge of Ruben Xaus comfortably in race one but in the second running, he had
to give best to the tall Catalan by almost the same margin. Yukio Kagayama (Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) did not start the races, nor did another inured rider
from qualifying, Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda). Roby Rolfo (Hannspree
Ten Kate Honda) was 11th and 10th.
TOUGH DAY FOR KAWASAKI RIDERS AFTER GOOD QUALIFYING FOR NIETO Fonsi Nieto
(PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) enjoyed strong qualifying performances but had to work
hard for only ninth and 14th places, as he lost pace throughout the races.
Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) had an even worse day, retiring from each
race.
WORLD SUPERSPORT RACE A superb win for 2002 World Champion Fabien Foret (GIL
Kawasaki) at the Phillip Island circuit saw him leap to second in the
championship, after giving Kawasaki its first WSS race win since the 2003
season. Second place man in Australia, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate
Honda), extended his championship lead to seven points over Foret, and a first
podium of the year came for long-time leader Broc Parkes (Yamaha SSP Racing).
Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) went fourth in the race with
Althea Honda rider Katsuaki Fujiwara fifth and Pere Riba (GIL Kawasaki) sixth.
In the championship Sofuoglu has a seven points advantage over Foret, 45
points to 38. Fujiwara is third, with 27 points. Charpentier set a new lap
record, 1'34.976 on lap two.
