Bayliss Extends Championship Lead
Added on Monday, April 7th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Bayliss has now opened up a 48-point lead in the title race
Troy Bayliss extended his lead at the top of the World Superbike Championships with a double-second in Valencia yesterday.
The Australian finished second in both races to take his tally to 128 points for the season so far, 48 points ahead of Spaniard Fonsi Nieto.
It was yet another disappointing weekend for Max Biaggi however; who saw his title hopes dealt another crushing blow.
The Italian, who was struggling with a hand injury prior to taking to the track, finishing out of the points in 16th in the first race although he did improve in the second to grab 8th position.
Lorenzo Lanzi took the first race of the afternoon in thrilling circumstances as German Max Neukirchner looked set to take victory after leading from pole position. However, it was local rider Carlos Checa who would prove to be his downfall.
The Spaniard attempted to take Neukirchner on the final corner of the race when he lost control, taking the race leader with him to hand victory to Lanzi.
The second race was taken by Japan’s Noriyuki Haga after Checa suffered yet another disaster.
The Honda rider, who passed Tory Bayliss on lap eight, suffered an electrical problem on lap twelve as both he and Bayliss were passed by Haga who held on for victory.
Afterwards, Haga claimed that he felt much more comfortable on the second bike, after damaging his first in the opening race.
“Of course I am very happy for this result” declared Haga. “It was a fast race and unlike the first I actually had a good feeling with the bike. I lost the front and crashed with my first bike in race two and had to use my second bike for this one.”
British Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari earned fourth place - his best result since making the move to WSB.
Results:
Race 1:
1 Lorenzo Lanzi, Italy (Ducati)
2 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati)
3 Troy Corser, Australia (Yamaha)
4 Fonsi Nieto, Spain (Suzuki)
5 Carlos Checa, Spain (Honda)
6 Karl Muggeridge, Australia (Honda)
7 Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Honda)
8 Regis Laconi, France (Kawasaki)
9 Makoto Tamada, Japan (Kawasaki)
10 Roberto Rolfo, Italy (Honda)
11 Shinichi Nakatomi, Japan (Yamaha)
12 Kenan Sofuoglu, Turkey (Honda)
13 Russell Holland, Australia (Honda)
14 Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati)
Race 2:
1 Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Yamaha)
2 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati)
3 Carlos Checa, Spain (Honda)
4 Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Honda)
5 Troy Corser, Australia (Yamaha)
6 Yukio Kagayama, Japan (Suzuki)
7 Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati)
8 Max Biaggi, Italy (Ducati)
9 Regis Laconi, France (Kawasaki)
10 Fonsi Nieto, Spain (Suzuki)
11 Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Honda)
12 Lorenzo Lanzi, Italy (Ducati)
13 Michel Fabrizio, Italy (Ducati)
14 Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati)
15 Kenan Sofuoglu, Turkey (Honda)
Championship points (after 3 rounds):
1 Bayliss 128,
2 Nieto 80
3 Corser amd Checa 72
5 Xaus 68
6 Haga 47
7 Biaggi 44
8 Lanzi 42
9 Neukirchner 39
10 Fabrizio 37
