World Superbikes - Round 2 - Phillip Island, Australia

Injured coming into the event, and injured again before the race start, Troy Bayliss (Xerox Ducati) still managed to pull off a fairytale finish in his farewell at Phillip Island, winning both Superbike races in a big weekend of action.

Andrew Pitt (Ten Kate Honda) made it an Aussie trifecta of victories when he clinched the World Supersport race in an epic struggle that went right down to the final lap.

In near perfect conditions at Phillip Island, Bayliss came out of the blocks early, recording fast lap times in qualifying, before he highsided his Ducati 1098 F08 in the second Saturday practice session. Bayliss required five stitches to his elbow, but it didn't slow the Aussie down for the afternoon's Superpole session. Bayliss cut an astonishing 1'31.493 Superpole lap, a full half second clear of fellow Aussie, Troy Corser (Yamaha Italia). Michel Fabrizio (Xerox Ducati) and Carlos Checa (Ten Kate Honda) completed the front row. Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) was looking good for a second row start, but a gear lever snapped on his Ducati before he could even start his lap. With his team unable to get it repaired in time, the furious Italian was forced to sit out Superpole and had to start the race from 16th on the grid. RACE 1.The first big race of the day had an equally big accident when Fabrizio stalled on the start line. Most riders managed to avoid him, except Vittorio Iannuzzo (Pedercini Kawasaki) who hit Fabrizio hard enough to wrench the Ducati rider's right boot off and send it flying into pit lane. Iannuzzo got the worst of the incident, though, pinned under his bike as it slid down the track. The incident left Iannuzzo with a fractured wrist and brought out the red flags. Meanwhile, at Lukey Heights, Russell Holland (D.F. Racing Honda) collected a slowing Checa, sending both tumbling into the dirt, almost taking Kenan Sofuoglu (Ten Kate Honda) with them. At the restart, everyone got away cleanly, none more so than Bayliss, who enjoyed a start to finish victory. Bayliss' cause was helped somewhat when a rapidly closing Biaggi crashed out on lap 16. With a badly worn rear tyre, Bayliss conceded after the race that if Biaggi had caught him, he would have been unable to hold off the Italian in the final laps. Corser and Fabrizio (with muscular contusions to his leg from the startline incident) completed the podium.

WSB - Rd. 2 - race 1 result 1. T. Bayliss Ducati 34'22.9332. T. Corser Yamaha + 4.2213. M. Fabrizio Ducati + 4.7384. R. Xaus Ducati + 5.1715. F. Nieto Suzuki + 5.5436. C. Checa Honda + 5.8957. M. Neukirchner Suzuki + 5.9648. N. Haga Yamaha + 14.826

RACE 2.The second race started under far less dramatic circumstances, but it ended dramatically for Corser, who crashed out on lap five while in the lead. Biaggi followed three laps later. This left Bayliss with Checa behind him. Although he stuck close to Bayliss' tail throughout the race, the MotoGP veteran could never get close enough to challenge for the lead. Likewise, eventual third place getter, Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki), was unable to make ground on Checa or Bayliss, having his own battle with Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) for the final podium spot. "It's been an incredible weekend", said Bayliss after race 2."Sure, there have been a few ups and downs, including my crash yesterday, but it's a dream to score a double win on my last ride here." And to win with a margin to spare in both races was awesome. I do enough fighting over the year, so to have a break on the opposition is good!", Bayliss joked. "I hope everyone had a great weekend, because I certainly did."

WSB - Rd. 2 - race 2 result 1. T. Bayliss Ducati 34'35.2842. C. Checa Honda + 1.1273. F. Nieto Suzuki + 4.3954. R. Xaus Ducati + 6.6215. M. Neukirchner Suzuki + 11.5506. R. Kiyonari Honda + 11.6207. N. Haga Yamaha + 12.0498. G. Lavilla Honda + 12.134

WORLD SUPERSPORT
The return of Andrew Pitt to the strong Ten Kate Honda team, Broc Parkes on the Yamaha and Josh Brookes finally securing some decent machinery in the form of a Stiggy Motorsports CBR 600RR left many Island fans expecting an Aussie 1-2-3 in the World Supersport race. They almost got their wish, but they had to hold their breath until the dying moments of the final lap, when Pitt won by a mere 0.062 seconds from Brookes. Parkes had set the pace early before crashing at MG corner on the third lap. Fabien Foret (Yamaha) and Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy M/Sports) joined the Aussie pair up front midway through the race, but the crowd's attention had turned to Garry McCoy (Triumph SC) who was slowly gaining on the lead group after starting from a lowly 17th on the grid. In the dying laps, it looked as though McCoy just might make it an Aussie 1-2-3, but Foret and Jonathan Rea (Ten Kate Honda) denied him with two laps to go. The result certainly showed the Triumph has some promise for this season. Up front, Harms, Pitt and Brookes were trading positions lap after lap. It was only an aggressive final lap from Pitt to clear the dogfight that gave the clearly overjoyed Aussie the win."It's a great feeling to win here at home", Pitt said. "Since 2006, things have turned upside down for me, but I want to thank the Ten Kate team for having faith in me - and I am happy to repay that faith today."

WSS - Rd. 2 - race result
1. A. Pitt Honda 33'51.2572. J. Brookes Honda + 0.0623. R. Harms Honda + 0.5974. F. Foret Yamaha +0.7805. J. Rea Honda + 0.9766. G. McCoy Triumph + 1.2287. J. Lascorz Honda + 6.5908. G. Vizziello Honda + 10.266