WSB Portugal: Bayliss Doubles!! Sofuoglu Wins Supersport, Hayes Fourth!

By: Mike Hannas
 

Troy Bayliss Perfect in Final Race Weekend of Career at Portimao. 

Hollywood couldn’t outdo Troy Bayliss if it tried.  In the final race weekend of what many will argue for years has been the most successful World Superbike career since the series inception, Bayliss got pole in the treacherous Superpole session Saturday, and then went out and won both races Sunday as he rode his Ducati 1098R off into the sunset.  Capping off a final perfect championship season with a final perfect weekend is fitting for Troy, and of course he delivered in typical fashion.  For a man who has had many incredible Sundays at the racetrack, including capping off a similarly spectacular 2006 season by winning the final MotoGP race of the 990 era in a one-off ride on the Desmosedici in Valencia after winning yet another World Superbike Championship, the last one may just be the sweetest.

In race one Bayliss was joined on the podium by Carlos Checa and Troy Corser, with Jonathan Rea fourth in his first ever World Superbike race.  Fonsi Nieto rounded out the top five, while Max Biaggi and Michel Fabrizio crashed out on lap one and Noriyuki Haga’s R-1 broke with five laps to go.

In Race two, Bayliss was followed home by his teammate Fabrizio and BSB wild card Leon Haslam, who will join the series full-time in 2009 with Stiggy Motorsports.  Suzuki teammates Max Neukirchner and Fonsi Nieto were fourth and fifth.  Gregorio Lavilla also had a good weekend with an eighth in race two behind race one podium finishers Corser and Checa, after a sixth in the first race.

In World Supersport action, Kenan Sofuoglu won in his first WSS race since 2007 after wisely dropping back down from WSB for the season final on his Ten Kate Honda, while American Josh Hayes ended up a very impressive fourth ahead of Broc Parkes after fighting in the lead pack during the race.  Andrew Pitt was second, with Joan Lascorz third.  Hayes temporary teammate ex-250GP star Simone Sanna also had an eyebrow-raising ride with a seventh place for Parkalgar Honda.

The other American racing in Portugal this weekend, Josh Day, also had a career-best day in 600 Superstock with fighting fifth place, ten seconds behind winner Gino Rea.

WSB Portugal: Race 1

WSB Portugal: Race 2

1. Bayliss
2. Fabrizio
3. Haslam
4. Neukirchner
5. Nieto
6. Corser
7. Checa
8. Lavilla
9. Crutchlow
10. Laconi

WSS Portugal: Race

1. Sofuoglu
2. Pitt
3. Lascorz
4. Hayes
5. Parkes
6. Nannelli
7. Sanna
8. Vizziello
9. Aitchison
10. Foret

For more info see www.worldsbk.com