Edwards and Bayliss share honours in California

Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss shared a win apiece to keep the World Superbike Championship title race alive yesterday. Ducati Infostrada's world champion Bayliss ­ who holds a commanding lead in the championship from Edwards ­ took race one but his Castrol Honda rival hit back to clinch the second.

Edwards made a perfect start in race one, pulling clear of Bayliss while Neil Hodgson on a Ducati was in third, under pressure from Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom. Having slipped back into fifth briefly, Noriyuki Haga on his Aprilia harried Hodgson. The Burnley-born rider held firm until lap nine when he finally succumbed to Haga.

The Japanese rider passed Bayliss and into second half a lap later. Haga's challenge was all but ended soon after when the two-time winner here slid off his Aprilia, before rejoining well down the field.

Hodgson eventually dropped to fifth behind the American wildcard Nicky Hayden. Having bided his time for several laps Bayliss swooped with an outbraking move on Edwards into the first corner on the 21st lap, only for the home favourite to snatch the lead back instantly.

A slight mistake from Edwards gave Bayliss the chance to take the lead for a second time. The Australian edged past before settling into a rhythm at the front.

In race two, Bostrom made an excellent getaway and led the opening lap from polesitter Edwards, with Bayliss in third. The American's advantage did not last long, however, with Edwards gliding down the inside.

As the race moved into the closing stages Hodgson took third from Bostrom before Bayliss briefly claimed the lead from Edwards. Bayliss made a slight error to allow Hodgson into second with three laps to go before they swapped positions several times on the final lap. Bayliss took second behind Edwards with Hodgson third.