Troy Bayliss has extended his World Superbike advantage to 49 points despite labelling the latest round of the championship at Misano as one of the hardest of his career.
Continuing his outstanding run of podiums around the circuit, Bayliss admits he was feeling confident about the races from second position on the grid, but ultimately he didn't have the pace capable of making a sustained challenge for victory.
Nonetheless, Bayliss was able to stay out of trouble in a frantic first race to be classed as the leading Ducati rider in third behind Max Neukirchner and
Troy Corser, a result he was satisfied with given the pace of his rivals.
"It was really hot here today like every year,” he said. I had been feeling good all weekend and was feeling confident before race 1. We had chosen a hard tyre which we thought would be good but then I struggled throughout the race. I can't take anything away from Neukirchner and Corser though as they rode a great race.”
Choosing the change the tyres for the second race, Bayliss once again found himself on the fringes of the leading fight on the way to the bottom step of an all-Ducati podium.
“After Race 1 we changed the tyre for the second race, thinking that was the problem, and that was as a bit better but it was still difficult and towards the end I was losing grip with the rear. Again I take my hat off to the guys ahead of me, Ruben and Max (Biaggi), who did a fantastic job.”
Despite missing out on victory and labelling the day as one of the hardest he has ever experienced, Bayliss was still pleased to have increased his championship lead over new second place rider Max Neukirchner.
“I can say that the day has been one of the hardest of my career, but in the end we've gained more points. I'd have liked to have done better today but there you go."
