Bayliss wins chaotic race one at Silverstone.

Troy Bayliss kept his Xerox Ducati rubber side down and on the black stuff to win race one at round seven of the Corona Extra Superbike World Championship at a soaking wet Silverstone.

"That was a tough race," he said, "Congratulations to everyone who is on the podium as it was very easy to make a mistake out there. There were some back markers and at the end I was able to force my way passed some of them and I think that made a difference to Haga and Corser as I got away a bit."

Troy Bayliss kept his Xerox Ducati rubber side down and on the black stuff to win race one at round seven of the Corona Extra Superbike World Championship at a soaking wet Silverstone.

"That was a tough race," he said, "Congratulations to everyone who is on the podium as it was very easy to make a mistake out there. There were some back markers and at the end I was able to force my way passed some of them and I think that made a difference to Haga and Corser as I got away a bit."

Noriyuki Haga followed him home in the murky conditions to secure second place and a healthy twenty points haul. "For me race two would be better if only ten laps!" joked a very cold Haga, "During race I had problem with my hand as it was so cold. It was a tough race and really difficult to see with the spray. The bike was working good and I will do my best in race two."

The last step of the podium went to his team-mate Troy Corser on the second Yamaha Italia machine. "To be honest it was real tricky out there. I got a good start so I was able to see for a while. The water really sticks to your visor especially on the slow corners; you need some speed to get it to clear," he said.

The weather conditions were taking their toil and Corser who felt he was further into the race as he explained, "The first time I looked at my lap board there were fourteen laps to go and I thought there should only be about five! Maybe they will reduce the race distance for the second race. Conditions like this can work for or against you and there were three or four of us that were faster than everyone else so it would have been the same result. I'm happy with the bike, it is working well and his is the first time I've ridden it in full wet conditions."

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's James Toseland had been running in fourth place when he high sided on the second lap. He was able to restart and finish eighth salvaging eight points for his championship. With Haga on the podium and Toseland not, it has closed up the Championship, Haga is now just twenty three points away from Toseland's lead. Toseland was unhurt in the crash but he had to complete the race with a heavily damaged bike so he did a good job to nurse it home.

Off the line it was Bayliss who got away well with Haga and Corser chasing him, Toseland was also following. Everything changed in just one lap with Toseland going down and Corser taking the lead. Bayliss sat behind him for a number of laps with Haga who was in third place all over him, so he decided to make his move and break Corser which he did on lap ten. By now Toseland was running in seventeenth place.

Josh Brookes was putting in a good show running in sixth place when he crashed his Alto Evolution Honda. His team-mate Karl Muggeridge crashed out on the first lap so it wasn't a good race for the team.

Lap nineteen saw Haga move up to second and Toseland secure eleventh place. One lap later and Yukio Kagayama crashed out giving Toseland another boost up the placings. The two Spaniards in the Championship, Fonsi Nieto and Ruben Xaus also crashed out on consecutive laps, promoting Toseland to eighth place. Xaus was able to restart and pull in some points.

Out of twenty one starters only thirteen riders finished the race and the front three lapped the bulk of the top ten finishers.
WSBK race (1) results - Silverstone:

1. Troy Bayliss
2. Noriyuki Haga
3. Troy Corser
4. Roberto Rolfo
5. Regis Laconi
6. Max Biaggi
7. Lorenzo Lanzi
8. James Toseland
9. Ruben Xaus
10. Max Neukirchner

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