However, just as it looked like Haga would be getting ready for another legendary fight with Bayliss, he quite suddenly low-sided mid-way through Surtees and came off the bike. Quickly jumping back on his Yamaha, Haga was nonetheless well out of contention now.
It left Bayliss exposed to a flying Kiyonari, the pair rapidly establishing a gap over now Sykes, who was the latest rider to dispose of Corser in his steady slip down the order.
With the bumper crowds cheering Sykes on, ‘The Grinner' looked as though he could be on for a very famous podium. However, just as it looked like he was starting to catch the race leaders, Sykes began slowing on lap nine. Visibly frustrated as his rivals swept past, Sykes rode straight into the pit-lane to retire. Investigations have since shown that a hole in the radiator, caused at the start when another rider ran wide onto the dirt, was the reason for a devastating retirement.
Back in the race, it was becoming evident that the win was going to come the way of either Bayliss or Kiyonari, the Japanese rider now latched onto the back of the Ducati, particularly in the first sector of the lap.
Indeed, while Bayliss was inch perfect as he defended from Kiyonari, it took a dive down the inside at Graham Hill Bend for him to get his nose in front. However, a calm Bayliss simply counter-attacked into Surtees to steal the place back. Kiyonari would repeat an identical move on lap 18 with the same result.
Nonetheless, Kiyonari persisted and after getting close to passing at Paddock Hill Bend at the start of lap 21, he finally made his move stick with a fine pass at the high-speed Hawthorn Bend.
Initially pulling out a gap, Bayliss admits he was willing to settle for second, but was stunned into pushing again thanks to the superb late race pace from Biaggi.
