Bayliss aiming to finally wrap it up

Troy Bayliss’ second – and this time all but inevitable - attempt to claim the 2008 world Superbike will continue at Magny-Cours in France this weekend.

After the ignominy of falling off in the last lap of round 12 (Vallelunga) with the championship seemingly in the bag, Bayliss (Ducati) will be determined to finally wrap things up at Magny-Cours, which should come as early as race one if results falls his way.

The most straightforward scenario is that Bayliss will be crowned world champion for the third time if he clinches the opener, leaving his closest challenger and countryman Troy Corser (Yamaha) to battle over second place in the title with Japan’s Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), Germany’s Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) and Spain’s Carlos Checa (Honda).

"After the results of Vallelunga, I obviously want to tie things up this weekend at Magny-Cours,” said Bayliss, who has already won eight times in 2008. “I still have a fairly big advantage in terms of points, but that doesn't mean I'm going to relax, not until it's all over.

“I've gone fairly well at this track in the past and have won here a couple of seasons ago so I know that if the conditions are right I can get the results.

“It's very strange to know that I'm so close to the end of my Superbike career, just two races to go. I can't really explain how I'm feeling, I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet."

Bayliss is currently 79pts (369 to 290) in front of Corser, with a maximum of 100 available in the final two rounds.

Bayliss is a past winner at Magny-Cours, in the year (2006) he claimed his second world title. Some of his rivals have also enjoyed recent success at the 4.411 French circuit, most notably Haga, who scored maximum points last year.

Corser has also been on the podium in three of the last four Magny-Cours races, Neukirchner is the current lap record holder – while Checa has never competed there after only moving across to world Superbike in 2008.

In particular Corser, who’s going to partner Spaniard Ruben Xaus in BMW’s fledgling world Superbike squad in 2009, is determined to leave Yamaha with at least one win to his name after two years of trying.

In other news, reigning German Superbike champion Martin Bauer will replace Ryuichi Kiyonari in the Ten Kate Honda equip this weekend after the Japanese ace recently broke his collarbone in testing. Bauer has been the teammate of seven-time world F1 champion Michael Schumacher in this year’s German title.

Meanwhile, Australian Karl Muggeridge (Honda) will attempt to reignite his campaign this weekend after some recent woes, and the 34-year-old can look back on his two world Supersport victories at Magny-Cours for some inspiration.

Max Biaggi (Ducati), Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki) and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) should also be strong contenders this weekend.
In world Supersport, Aussie Andrew Pitt (Honda) has his British teammate Jonathan Rea breathing down his neck, with just 11pts separating the pair with two rounds to go.

The omens are strong for a Honda win – the manufacturers has won four of the last five races at Magny-Cours – which could also bring another Aussie, Josh Brookes, into the mix.

Brookes is in third, 28pts behind Pitt, and then it’s Newcastle’s Broc Parkes (Yamaha) next in line.

Parkes won at Magny-Cours in 2005, which was his first world Supersport win.

2008 WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (after 12 of 14 rounds):

1 Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati  369
2 Troy Corser, Australia, Yamaha  290
=3 Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha  280
=3 Max Neukirchner, Germany, Suzuki 280
5 Carlos Checa, Spain, Honda  262
6 Max Biaggi, Italy, Ducati  212
7 Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Suzuki  206
8 Michel Fabrizio, Italy, Ducati  201
9 Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan, Honda  193
10 Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati  160
15 Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Honda 71
25 Russell Holland, Australia, Honda 14