Edwards' record-breaking sixth and seventh wins in  succession also gave the battling Texan a one-point lead in the championship after rival Troy Bayliss crashed out of the second race of the  day.

Edwards won pole position in exciting fashion on Saturday running wide in the final chicane and through the gravel trap on his Superpole lap - and Sunday's action continued to be dramatic at the Dutch event.

He took victory in the opening race after being fourth on the first lap, passing Bayliss and Noriyuki Haga by the end of the lap. Edwards took the lead on lap two from Neil Hodgson and the Texan eased into a six-second lead by the halfway point in the 16-lap affair.

Bayliss battled from fourth and took the runner-up position with five laps to go, crossing the finish line 3.6s behind SP-2 rider Edwards. Aprilia's Haga took his seventh podium finish of the year with third place.

Edwards said: "I always felt I could win but that opening lap was a little bit tougher than I would have liked. I knew that once I was in front I could make the break and I was always kept in touch with Troy's progress in fact I had just about every detail except the lunch menu on my pit signal board!"

He added: "I couldn't fault the machine at all, it ran perfect and despite a bit of trouble with tyre selection yesterday Michelin came up with the goods."

Ducati's Ruben Xaus was a lonely fourth after holding second place until the sixth lap. Pier-Francesco Chili edged out youngster James Toseland for fifth place.

Edwards kept his championship chances on course with a start to finish victory in race two as the drama unfolded behind him on the biggest day yet of the 2002 championship.

Bayliss made an attempt to pass Hodgson for second place at the final chicane on the third lap but ran wide and into the gravel trap, retuning to the track in fifth place.

The championship took another twist as Haga ran into the back of Hodgson on the ninth lap and the pair ran off the track handing Bayliss third place behind Edwards and Chili.

Then, a handful of corners later, Bayliss crashed out of the race at the slow, left-hand hairpin. That left Chili in a comfortable second place and promoted Ducati youngster James Toseland to third his first ever podium finish in the World Superbike championship.

Edwards victory, the 29th of his career, gave him a one-point championship lead with one round, at Imola in Italy on September 29 remaining.

"I wanted to win both races today like I've never wanted wins," admitted Edwards. "We didn't have the best two days of qualifying we've ever had but it all came together sweet in the races. When I got the signal to say Troy (Bayliss) was out of the race I just got my head down and concentrated on the chequered flag. Troy's been riding really well this year but at the moment I think I'm riding that little bit better."

Edwards concluded: "I suppose you could never have predicted what's happened today but it's made for a great finale at Imola in three weeks and I can't wait, I wish it was tomorrow."

Hodgson returned to the circuit to take fourth place while Ben Bostrom improved on his first race eighth place to take fifth with Haga also retuning to the circuit for a sixth-placed finish.