Vallelunga World Superbikes: James Toseland forced to wait for title as Troy Bayliss wins race two in Italy

Britain’s James Toseland will have to wait until next weekend to try and claim the World Superbike crown after crashing in Vallelunga.

The Sheffield rider was battling with Troy Corser for fourth place when he slid off. He did manage to get going again but way down the field.

And so it was current World Champion Troy Bayliss who took his seventh victory of the season in race two at the Italian circuit with local hero Max Biaggi coming home in second.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s James Toseland got a much better start than in race one and went through to second as Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss headed straight in to the lead.

In a repeat from race one, James Toseland and Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga were battling from the start and Haga got the better off the Brit before the end of lap one to take second.

Alstare Suzuki’s Max Biaggi forced his way in to fourth on lap three past Troy Corser who was fortunate not to crash in to the Italian.

Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss had built up a 1:28.238sec lead by lap three.

By lap four James Toseland had race one winner Max Biaggi hot on his back tyre but as he tried to pass the current championship leader he was caught by Yamaha’s Troy Corser.

Biaggi sent the Italian crowd wild as he eventually passed James Toseland on lap five to take third place.

James Toseland dropped his bike on a long left-hand corner on lap nine to let Troy Corser through. He managed to rejoin in 12th place without too much apparent damage to his CBR1000RR except for a broken handle bar.

The British rider was then on a mission and set about hoping to improve his position to keep his championship title hopes alive.

On lap 11 Noriyuki Haga took on leader Troy Bayliss, almost hitting the Australian’s back tyre. And Italian Max Biaggi was keen to join in on the action managing to pass Haga on lap 13. Haga got his place back only to lose it again on the next corner.

Regis Laconi took a trip to the gravel trap on lap 14 which saw his race come to an end from ninth place.

Michel Fabrizio, who has just signed to ride for Xerox Ducati in 2008, was next to retire also on lap 14.

Max Biaggi was desperate for his second win of the day and was looking to get past Troy Bayliss at every corner. But he ran out of laps and it was Bayliss who took the victory with Biaggi second and Noriyuki Haga third.

Biaggi’s second place has moved him in to second in the world championship 29 points behind James Toseland, who managed to bring his Honda home in 11th.

Vallelunga World Superbikes race two results:

1 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati 999 1’38.094
2 M.BIAGGI  ITA Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1.431
3 N.HAGA JPN Yamaha YZF-R1 4.466
4 T. CORSER AUS YZF-R1 13.766
5 R. ROLFO ITA Honda CBR1000RR  20.848
6  R. XAUS ESP Ducati 999 21.93
7  L. LANZI ITA Ducati 999 29.847
8 F. NIETO ESP Kawasaki ZX-10R 29.986
9 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF-R1 40.126
10 M.NEUKIRCHNER GER Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6 40.733
11 J. TOSELAND GBR Honda CBR1000RR 42.544
12 V. IANNUZZ ITA Kawasaki ZX-10R 54.504
13 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS Honda CBR1000RR  55.024
14 S. MARTIN AUS Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6 55.304
15 Y. TIBERIO FRA Honda CBR1000RR  59.781
16 N. BRIGNOLA ITA Ducati 999 1’00.609
17 L. MORELLI ITA Honda CBR1000RR 1’06.922
18 M.BORCIANI ITA Ducati 999  1’18.228
19 D. ELLISON GBR Ducati 999 1 lap