Bayliss rides out technical problems to stretch lead

Troy Bayliss had an almost faultless San Marino round of the World Superbike Championship to extend his lead in the title race.

The defending champion overcame both a late change of machine and title rival Colin Edwards to win the first race at Misano. The Ducati Infostrada rider had to switch to his second machine after the sighting lap because of mechanical problems but, despite a few difficult moments on the San Marino track, he passed the Castrol Honda of Edwards to secure victory in the first leg.

The British rider Neil Hodgson rode a lonely race for third, equalling his best result of the season.

Bayliss held an advantage of seven and a half seconds over Edwards in race two to record his 13th victory of the season. Japan's Noriyuki Haga finished second, with Hodgson third.

The two race wins for Bayliss took his championship points total to 360, giving him a 49-point lead over Edwards. Hodgson is third on 194 points.

Michael Rutter moved into contention for the Motorcycle News British Superbike Championship with a double race win in round seven at Rockingham in Northamptonshire. The Renegade Ducati rider headed off the fierce challenges of the two riders ahead of him in the standings, Steve Hislop and Sean Emmett.

Rutter was quickly away in the opening 22-lap race and went on to claim victory by just under half a second.

The defending champion John Reynolds made a fine start to the second race, but soon pulled his Rizla Suzuki out with technical problems.

Rutter ran clear ahead of Hislop, but the MonsterMob Ducati rider took the lead on lap three. Hislop, the series leader, blundered on the eighth lap when he overshot Kirby Corner and rejoined the race in eighth place. He smashed the lap record in his efforts to claw back positions, finishing fourth as Rutter took victory, almost two seconds clear of Emmett, with Dean Thomas third.