It was at this corresponding round last year that Bayliss won his first ever World Superbike crown, sealing the championship with one round to spare. The Australian will be looking to repeat the performance, but again will be closely shadowed by Edwards.

The pair have dominated this years championship with Bayliss taking fourteen race victories this season (three shy of the all time season record held by American Doug Polen in 1991), while Edwards has won seven, including wins at the last five races. The only race that neither has won was the second race at the Japanese round at Sugo, in April, which was won by local rider Makoto Tamada on a Honda.

Bayliss and his Infostrada Ducati team will arrive at the 6.027km Assen circuit as the defending race winners and will be looking to make amends for a frustrating round in Germany last weekend and return to the top of the winners podium, thus putting the pressure back on to his title challenger.

“I don’t think I could get under any more pressure than what I was under last weekend,” said Bayliss. “Everything was going bad. I was on the second row of the grid and needing two good starts, that I got and had two good results, as I just wasn’t going to win on the day. Pressure definitely brings out the best in me. I’ll be going to Assen in what I would call ‘normal’ mode and do the best that I can do.”

The famous Assen circuit has undergone a number of changes since last years round. To increase the size of the pit complex, the section of track behind the pit area has been pushed back approximately 60 metres, but maintains its characteristic fast sweeping turns. The hairpin section has also been altered to make it tighter and to provide additional run off area.

“Assen has had a few changes made to it since we were last there. I’ve seen it on the television, but I’ll ride around it on my bicycle on Thursday to check it out,” added Bayliss. “I think it will still be good there regardless. Colin’s Honda definitely suited the Oschersleben circuit last weekend, but now we are going to a track that has been kind to Ducati and myself in the past. I know what I’ve got to do this weekend and what needs to be done in regards to the championship. We have an additional five points advantage over Colin than we had last year to wrap up the championship. He’s shown that he wants to fight it to the end, but I’m determined to get the upper hand this weekend.”

Having led the championship from the opening race Bayliss has amassed a total of 481 points, to the 452 of Edwards. The pair are well ahead of third placed Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) who has a total of 289. With two rounds, four races and 100 championship points still available, the closing stages of this years championship look set to provide Superbike race fans with some of the closest and fastest racing of the year.

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