Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss has wrapped his third and final World Superbike title at Magny Cours this morning, finishing third behind race winner Noriyuki Haga and Fonsi Nieto.
The affable Aussie did exactly as he said he would yesterday and reigned in his riding towards the end of race one, allowing Alstare Suzuki’s Nieto past in the closing stages after team-mate Michel Fabrizio, who was riding shotgun, crashed out.
Bayliss made an incredible start and put half a second into Haga in two corners. However, the Japanese Sandtander Yamaha man took the lead on lap two and then cruised away at the front, with Bayliss only making one spirited attempt to get back in front.
From then, it was a battle for the minor spots. Troy Corser made a great charge from the middle of the grid and got up to sixth by the end of the second, and he spent the race battling with Max Neukirchner.
Sterilgarda Ducati’s Max Biaggi gradually moved his way up through the field and managed to get past Neukirchner to take fourth. Checa had looked like he could challenge for second but cooked his tyres early and had to settle for seventh.
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