Double triumph for Bayliss

Troy Bayliss strengthened his grip on the World Superbike Championship as he took his tally of victories to 11 races this season with a double success here.

The Australian rider was in impressive form on his Infostrada Ducati as he held off Colin Edwards in both races. His Spanish team-mate, Ruben Xaus, was third in both races on a day when Britain's Neil Hodgson suffered his worst round of the season.

Hodgson crashed out of the first race in the early stages after losing fourth place to Xaus and could manage only eighth in race two. He remains third in the championship behind Bayliss and Edwards, but Japan's Noriyuki Haga and Xaus are now breathing down his neck.

Bayliss took victory in the first race after shadowing Edwards for 15 of the 24 laps. The Australian had been in pole position on the grid, but his Texan rival got a better start and fought off the champion's attacks for more than half the distance. Yet Bayliss managed to get better drive along one of the two infield straights and showed why he is firmly on course for a second successive world title.

Hodgson's race was over on the third lap, but lasted longer than that of Chris Walker. The Nottingham rider never got off the line as the rear brake assembly on his Fuchs Kawasaki fell off and he was forced to pull out. Hodgson had just been passed by Xaus when the Burnley-born rider lost front wheel grip going into a turn and slid off.

Although Hodgson kept the engine running and rejoined the race he eventually pulled out, his first race of the season without any championship points. Hodgson's team-mate, James Toseland, fared better, the Sheffield rider winning a fierce battle with Gregorio Lavilla of Spain to take seventh.

The top three were the same in race two and the race also went a little better for the Isle of Man-based Hodgson, who finished eighth. Toseland again took seventh to lie in the same spot in the championship, while Walker took ninth.