World Superbike Final Round

James Toseland (Honda) has won the 2007 World Superbike title by a scant two points over Japan's Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) after a dramatic and tense final round in France.

Toseland finished seventh and sixth in Magny-Cours' two 23-lap races, while Haga was superb in scoring maximum points with his second clean sweep of the year.

Haga's imperious form saw him move back in front of Suzuki's Max Biaggi for second in the title, but he fell just short of overtaking Toseland, who's now a dual world champion.

"It's about time!" said Toseland from the same venue he wrapped up his first world title at in 2004. "I have led the championship from Qatar and what an incredible championship it has been.

"I think this has been the best World Superbike season I have ever experienced and I have been riding in the series for seven years now. The standard of riding has been incredible and I have enjoyed battling with all of them – Bayliss, Corser, Biaggi – the list goes on. I have been pushed to the absolute limit and to win the championship by just two points is unbelievable.

"This is what I live for, it's what really matters to me and I wanted it so much. This is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported me through my Superbike career. I can leave for MotoGP with my head held high and the knowledge that I gave this championship my all until the very last race."

Toseland's title is Honda's first since American Colin Edwards in 2002, and the Japanese marque's sixth since the inception of hostilities in 1988.

Toseland started from pole position in Magny-Cours, but was then involved in a Turn One melee in the opening race, which saw Italian Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) crash and the Briton run off the track - along with Biaggi.

Both world championship contenders managed to stay upright, with Biaggi completing lap one 15th - and Toseland second last (18th). As expected, both riders rallied to finish the race in the top 10 (Biaggi was sixth), but they were never going to make an impression on the leaders.

After Aussie teammate Troy Corser (Yamaha) and German Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) nipped at his heels in the first half of race one, Haga eventually pulled away to finish 2.770 seconds clear of the fast-finishing Troy Bayliss (Ducati).

Corser and Neukirchner were third and fourth, ahead of Fonsi Nieto (Kawasaki), Biaggi and Toseland.

Then it all came down to the final race of the year, which wasn't as dramatic as the first - but still nerve-wrecking nonetheless. Haga again swept aside his peers, with Biaggi, Nieto, Corser and Bayliss rounding out the top five.

Toseland's sixth place was just enough to hold out the rampaging Haga, and the 2pt final margin is now the closest in World Superbike history, eclipsing Carl Fogarty's 4.5pt win over New Zealander Aaron Slight in 1998.

Although frustrated that he got so close to winning his first title, Haga was still gracious in defeat.

"I'm disappointed with second in the championship -- who wouldn't be with a gap of just 2pts!" said Haga. "But I'm happy. I've enjoyed fighting with all the riders in the championship this year. The last few races have been really good from a results point of view, and I'll just have to try harder next year.

"It's been good working with Troy (Corser) this year, we get on well and I'm looking forward to developing the bike further with him next year. I'd like to thank the team for all their efforts and congratulations to James on winning the championship."

Meanwhile, Yamaha claimed the Superbike manufacturers' title for the first time in 2007, mostly due to the combined might of Corser and Haga.

Corser was the consummate teammate to Haga at Magny-Cours.

"I got a great start in race one; my aim had been to get in front and just go for the win but Nori was very determined to get in front of me!" said Corser. "I wasn't going to risk crashing and taking us both out in order to get back past him. I rode as hard as I could but my front tyre went off during the race so I was unable to hold Bayliss off and he got past.

"In race two I got off the line well again and I just did my best to hold everyone up! Overall I'm happy; I set out what I achieved to do today and I'm pleased to have played a part in giving Yamaha the manufacturers' title."

In World Supersport, Broc Parkes (Yamaha) vaulted ahead of Fabien Foret (Kawasaki) to finish second in the title behind Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda).

Parkes, 25, battled hard with Sofuoglu in the final round, before the Turkish rider pulled away in the final six laps for a 2.794-second win - his record breaking eighth of the year.

In any case, Parkes wasn't about to set out in pursuit of Sofuoglu, because he knew that Foret had already retired, gifting second place in the championship to the Australian.

Sofuoglu finished the year with a staggering 276 points out of a possible 325, ahead of Parkes (133), Foret (128), Katsuaki Fujiwara (Honda, 101) and Briton Craig Jones (Honda, 90).

A second Australian, Anthony West, finished ninth in the title after winning two races and finishing third in a brutal mid-season assault - which proved to be his meal ticket back into MotoGP.