World Superbike 2006 - Round Three

Chris Walker was the early race leader in the second bout ahead of Bayliss, Haga, Hill, Corser and Toseland. Bayliss did his best to get Walker on lap one but the Kawasaki man held on and Haga got the better of Bayliss for second on lap two. Haga immediately started to challenge Walker for the lead. The opening laps were absolutely fantastic with Haga getting Walker and Bayliss nudging his way in front only to be immediately pushed back again, the trio three wide at some points on lap three.

Meanwhile Corser had finally found a way past Hill and started closing on the leading trio. James Toseland followed his example. Bayliss was trying to find a way past Walker but the Briton was making his Kawasaki very wide and making things difficult for the Ducati man. Haga was benefiting from that battle to pull a few bike lengths on his pursuers. Bayliss torturing his tyres on the exit of the tighter turns in his efforts to try and get ahead of Walker which could come back to bite him as the laps count down.

Lap six saw Bayliss finally pass and escape from Walker and he immediately closed on Haga to take the lead and put his head down to try and make a break.

Haga was determined not to let Bayliss get away as the pair streaked away from Walker and the rest of the field. Corser and Toseland were having a hard time of it trying to get past Walker. Andrew Pitt joined that party also on lap 12 and pushed past Corser for fifth place while Toseland finally managed to make a pass stick on Walker to take third place.

Andrew Pitt put an aggressive block move on Walker as the race entered its second half while up front Haga was starting to show Bayliss a wheel here and there to let him know that he was ready to battle for the win all the way to the line.

Haga sneaked through to the race lead on lap 16 of the 28 lap distance. Bayliss' turn to follow..

Further back Barros added to Corser's woes by pushing the Suzuki man back to seventh place.

Bayliss went back to the race lead on lap 17. Barros was making a big effort to get the better of Walker while Xaus stalked Corser. Pitt had managed to pull away from Walker and was half a second behind third placed James Toseland with ten laps still to run.

Xaus got the better of Walker with a few laps to run. Corser managed to get Walker a couple of laps later. Up front Bayliss was now looking safe for the win. Half a lap after getting Walker, Corser then got Xaus to promote himself up to sixth place.

Bayliss went on to take the win to extend his lead in the championship over Troy Corser out to a huge 76 points. Haga came home strong in second place to move up to third place in the championship standings. Andrew Pitt put in a great ride for fourth place ahead of Alex Barros while early race leader Chris Walker drifted back to an eighth place finish.