Bayliss...enjoying the double on home soil
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Biaggi's crash - love the enthusiastic Spanish commentary
DESPITE INJURY Troy Bayliss proved he's a man of steel today by winning both WSB races at Phillip Island.
The Australian, who gashed his elbow in a nasty highside during Saturday practice, shook off the competition to win both races by a comfortable margin.
The two-time world champion, led from the start beating countryman Troy Corser by over four seconds at the flag.
Initially, the race was stopped after Michel Fabrizio stalled on the grid before Vittorio Iannuzzo ran into the stationary Ducati rider him from behind. In the mayhem Carlos Checa and Russell Holland had a coming together, sending both riders onto the floor.
Race two saw Bayliss domanite proceedings once again, after fellow countryman Troy Corser threw away the lead on lap five, when he lost the front end of his Yamaha YZF-R1. Corser, who jumped the start along with Fabrizio, Smrz and Laconi fell before he got the chance to take his enforced pit-visit penalty.
Outgoing MotoGP star, Carlos Checa, proved he's still got what it takes after clinching second place at the flag, after a terrific dice with Fonzi Nieto and Ducati-mounted Ruben Xaus.
Italian Max Biaggi suffered a broken wrist in race 2, when he slung his bike up the road in a terrifying incident at the end of the main staight, while attempting to outbrake Fonsi Nieto. Biaggi slammed into the tarmac at an estimated 160mph and was lucky not to collide with his cartwheeling Ducati 1098R.
Bayliss said of his double victory:
"It's something you dream of, to have a double win and I knew this year it would be difficult to achieve but I have a great team behind me who all worked really hard.
"Overnight they had to build a new bike for me from scratch after my crash yesterday. I had a few ups and downs this weekend. After Race 1 I was struggling with the last 6 laps but in the end I managed to take the win.
"In the second race the tyres were a little slower but I felt better on the bike which was more consistent and a pleasure to ride. After race 1 I was so tired but after the second one I felt great. I had to concentrate hard today as in the second race, even though I was ahead I was aware I had to keep it together and put in some consistently good laps.
"It's been incredible, great weather and some good racing. I know there will be fighting to come later this season so two wins like that was just fantastic."
RESULTS: RACE 1
1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox)
2. Corser (Yamaha)
3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox)
4. Xaus (Ducati)
5. Nieto (Suzuki)
6. Checa (Honda)
RACE 2
1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox)
2. Checa (Honda)
3. Nieto (Suzuki)
4. Xaus (Ducati)
5. Neukirchner (Suzuki)
6. Kiyonari (Honda)
Championship Standings
1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 88
2. Nieto (Suzuki) 61
3. Xaus (Ducati) 59
4. Corser (Yamaha) 45
5. Checa (Honda) 45
6. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 39
7. Biaggi (Ducati) 36
8. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 34
