Xerox Ducati's reigning World Superbike Champion,
Troy Bayliss took a superb race one win at round two of the Corona Extra Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island.
Britain's
James Toseland lead for the bulk of the race but lost out on the last four laps as his tyres gave up the ghost.
Third place went to Max Biaggi on the singular Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki, following a big battle with Yamaha's
Noriyuki Haga. Biaggi's team-mate
Yukio Kagayama was under doctor's orders not to race following a heavy crash during qualifying which has left him with lung damage.
Off the line it looked like Bayliss had the hole shoot, but Biaggi muscled his way through from the second row of the grid. However his lead was short lived as Toseland swooped round the outside to snatch it from him.
Troy Corser on the Yamaha Italia wasted no time in getting in on the action, passing Biaggi for third place and one lap later he dispensed with Bayliss to take second. Haga had also got the better of the Roman Emperor and Biaggi was left languishing in fifth place.
The front three started to gap the chasing pack with Toseland leading from Corser and Bayliss in third. Lap seven saw Bayliss make his move taking Corser for second place. Corser didn't have an answer to this move and from this point on he started to drop back slightly due to tyre wear.
Bayliss waited until lap seventeen before he tried to take the lead. He made a move at MG corner but Toseland took it back in quite a rough manner – some fairing bashing went on! A couple of corners later Toseland waved an apology to the Ducati rider. But one lap later he shoved his Ducati under Toseland's Honda and made the move stick. Toseland's tyre was spent and he was unable to challenge any further.
