Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss took his 50th World Superbike at Magny Cours this afternoon to add to the third world championship he won earlier on today.

Bayliss, who was taking part in his 150th world superbike race, had a titanic struggle with Santander Yamaha’s Noriuki Haga and team-mate Troy Corser and it was only a late burst of speed by the Australian which took him to victory.

Halfway through the race, marshals put out the diminshed adhesion flags and rain was seen to fall on some parts of the track. Leader Haga throttled off which allowed Bayliss past and Corser to catch both of them.

Corser then went past Haga as Bayliss had a massive slide through the chicane but the Japanese came straight back and passed both men. Corser put a move on Bayliss a lap later, but the Aussie went wide and lost the rear, allowing Bayliss back past.

With four laps to go, Bayliss started a move on Haga from three corners away and attempted a move up the inside at Chateau D’Eau turn but ran wide and Haga was back past.

Haga then ran wide again a lap later and Bayliss dived underneath but Haga came back past and it wasn’t until there were only two laps to go that Bayliss put a pass on Haga and made it stick before pulling away.

Corser had to settle for third with Ten Kate Honda Carlos Checa fourth and the Sterilgarda pairing of Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi fifth and sixth.

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