Motorcycling: Dominant Bayliss celebrates Dutch double

Troy Bayliss secured a double race win at Assen in the Netherlands in the fourth round of the World Superbike Championship yesterday, stretching his lead in the standings to 70 points.

The Australian had put his Xerox Ducati on pole position and took both race wins as he continued to dominate his final series before retirement.

Carlos Checa moved to second in the standings after two podium finishes on his HANNspree Ten Kate Honda.

Bayliss was delighted with his perfect weekend which saw him earn his second double race win of the season. "It's been an incredible weekend, taking pole and two race wins is a great way to finish it off," he said.

He won the first race after the Japanese rider Yukio Kagayama made a mistake while leading a third of the way through. Bayliss took over and then controlled the race.

Checa waited patiently before easing past Kagayama's Alstare Suzuki team-mate Max Neukirchner to take the runner-up spot, with Kagayama in fourth ahead of Troy Corser.

A relieved Bayliss, who saw his tyres deteriorate late in the race, said: "I'm very happy with the way it turned out. I made a really good start but it's a long time to be out there [in the lead] by yourself. I was looking around more than normal but I wanted to see where Carlos was."

Race two was a four-way battle at the front with Bayliss leading Japan's Noriyuki Haga, Neukirchner and the Ducati of Ruben Xaus. Bayliss and Haga broke away and the Australian held off his rival. Xaus had got the better of Neukirchner but his hopes of a podium spot were dashed when Checa closed in and grabbed third place.