Double Dutch for Bayliss in Assen

Added on Monday, April 28th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Bayliss (#21) beats Haga to open up a 70 point lead in the championship

It's been an incredible weekend

Troy Bayliss extended his lead in the World Superbikes Championship by a staggering 70 points after a double-victory in Assen this weekend.

The Australian powered to two convincing wins in Holland to take his season total to 178 after just four rounds, almost double the total of 90 points that he had accumulated at this stage last year.

Bayliss recorded his fifth victory at Assen in the first race, overtaking YUKIO Kagayama on lap twelve and building on his lead to establish a two-second gap over Carlos Checa at the finish line.

Checa came on top in a sprint finish for second with German rider Max Neukirchner, who did his growing reputation little harm with a first ever podium.

In race two, Bayliss put in yet another consistent performance, leading from start to finish despite constant pressure from Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga, wining by a more slender margin of 0.082 seconds. Checa, second in the earlier race, had to make do with a place on the lowest step of the podium.

Afterwards, an understandably delighted Bayliss said: “It’s been an incredible weekend, pole and two race wins on the last time I’m going to ride a bike around Assen in a race that’s for sure. That was such a hard race to control it like I did, because Nori [Noriyuki Haga] is so strong. I did all the tricks I could use in the last few laps to hold him off and was lucky enough to get it. I used a harder tyre in the second race and my lap times are a lot more consistent so that was a good choice for sure. I think these guys here with me are my main contenders for the year at the moment.”

Results: Hanspree Superbike World Championship 2008, R4: Assen, NED

Race One:

1. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati Xerox, 36:50.907
2. Carlos Checa (Esp) Hanspree Ten Kate Honda, 36:53.039
3. Max Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki Alstare, 36:53.086
4. Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki Alstare, 37:01.826
5. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha Motor Italia, 37:01.958

Race Two:

1. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati Xerox, 36:46.238
2. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha Motor Italia, 36:46.320
3. Carlos Checa (Esp) Hanspree Ten Kate Honda, 36:52.574
4. Ruben Xaus (Esp) Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati, 36:53.813
5. Max Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki Alstare, 36:54.249

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