Bayliss speechless after double win

Eurosport - Mon, 03 Nov 08:35:00 2008

Three-times world champion Troy Bayliss described his double win at the Portimao circuit on Sunday as the "perfect way to end" his World Superbike career.

2008 Ducati Troy Bayliss - 0

Bayliss (pictured) had already guaranteed his third world championship before proceedings began in Portugal but the Ducati Xerox signed off in style by winning both races.

"I'm a bit lost for words to be honest. This is the perfect way to end my career," he said.

"It's a long road to get here but we have finally done it. My career has come to an end and and I've finished it off with two wins.

"The team have been great for me this year. The bike I rode today is the best bike I've ever ridden in my career. It's a perfect time to go out."

The Australian began race one on pole and surged ahead from the start while team-mate Fabrizio Michel took out Max Biagi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven) on the first corner.

Bayliss never surrendered his lead and went on to beat Carlos Checa (Honda) by just over two seconds. Troy Corser completed the rostrum in third while Briton Jonathan Rea (Honda) finished fourth.

Leon Haslam (Honda) started the race sixth on the grid and finished one place down in seventh while Cal Crutchlow's race ended in disappointment as he retired after lap 35.

Bayliss then cruised to victory in the second race of the day to complete his 11th victory of the season.

He had to battle to complete his second victory though after he slipped back to fourth after a poor start.

Jakob Smrz (Guandalini Racing) and Rea raced to the front of the field after the first corner but Bayliss clawed his way back to win by over three seconds ahead of Fabrizio to complete a Ducati one-two.

The pair were joined on the podium by Haslam who rose from seventh on the grid to pick up his first podium of the season.

Haslam said: "It's what I've been looking for. To have a good finish and to get on the rostrum is a great way to end the season. I'm over the moon."

Race 1: 1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 38'48.373 (156,198 kph); 2. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 2.207; 3. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 6.972; 4. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 15.228; 5. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 16.126; 6. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 18.152; 7. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 18.939; 8. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 20.942; 9. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 32.018; 10. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 32.871; 11. Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 36.778; 12. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 36.848; 13. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 41.667; 14. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 41.806; 15. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 48.337; 16. Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 50.295

Race 2: 1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 38'26.125 (157,705 kph); 2. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 3.638; 3. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 4.356; 4. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 4.983; 5. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 6.775; 6. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 7.403; 7. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 7.578; 8. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 16.113; 9. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 16.284; 10. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 16.446; 11. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 21.633; 12. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 22.098; 13. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 24.089; 14. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 24.117; 15. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 31.003; 16. Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31.136

Final Championship Points: Riders - 1. Bayliss (Ducati) 460; 2. Corser (Yamaha) 342; 3. Haga (Yamaha) 327; 4. Checa (Honda) 313; 5. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 311; 6. Nieto (Suzuki) 256; 7. Biaggi (Ducati) 238; 8. Fabrizio (Ducati) 223; 9. Kiyonari (Honda) 206; 10. Xaus (Ducati) 178; etc.

Manufacturers - 1. Ducati 570; 2. Yamaha 487; 3. Honda 415; 4. Suzuki 408; 5. Kawasaki 94.

Supersport World Championship: 1. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 35'39.851 (154,508 kph); 2. Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 3.844; 3. Lascorz J. (ESP) Honda CBR600RR 7.403; 4. Hayes J. (USA) Honda CBR600RR 7.445; 5. Parkes B. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R6 17.271; 6. Nannelli G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 17.297; 7. Sanna S. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 25.803; 8. Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 29.749

Final Championship Points: 1. Pitt (Honda) 214; 2. Rea (Honda) 164; 3. Brookes (Honda) 162; 4. Parkes (Yamaha) 150; 5. Lascorz (Honda) 121; 6. Foret (Yamaha) 111; 7. Jones (Honda) 100; 8. Veneman (Suzuki) 92; etc.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Well done Troy! We're going to miss you.Enjoy retirement....

    From steve g, on Sun 9 Nov 11:47PM

  2. Having followed Leon Haslam in BSB all season, and a fantastic season at that, I think he did a fantastic job in WSB yesterday. Well done Leon...and all the best for next season. Didn't realise you were German though :-)

    From chris, on Mon 3 Nov 10:23PM

  3. Well done Troy & thanks for all the brilliant racing you have given us all.

    Enjoy your retirement, you've earned it.

    From PUFFINMAN, on Mon 3 Nov 9:34PM

  4. Troy Bayliss...a lesson in how to quit while you're ahead. I think there was still a season or two left in him but I admire his decision. He will be missed.

    From R, on Mon 3 Nov 2:18AM

  5. well done leon- good effort

    From REPSOL ROSS, on Mon 3 Nov 1:01AM

  6. Another masterclass by troy b, tell your missus that your'e not ready for a pipe and slippers yet as your still at the top of your game, now its hard for me to say this as i'm a big HONDA fan but i can spot class when i'm watching it. good luck, troy in whatever you choose to do, thanks for the memories- REPSOL ROSS

    From REPSOL ROSS, on Mon 3 Nov 1:00AM

  7. Well done Troy and well done Leon Haslam too, roll on next year!!!!!

    From GEORGE, on Mon 3 Nov 12:04AM
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