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World Superbike 2006 -
Round Six - Misano Superbike Race 2 June 25th, 2006 - By, Trevor Hedge |
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World Superbike 2006 -
Round Six - Misano Superbike Race 2 June 25th, 2006 - By, Trevor Hedge |
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| Troy Bayliss put in a dominating
performance in race one to extend his championship lead out to a
huge 101 points while Troy Corser skittled off into the kitty
litter. James Toseland brought home an impressive second place
to move into equal second place in the series with Corser and as
we enter the second half of the season Corser must start taking
some risks if he has any hope of retaining his #1 plate. Corser got a great run off the line to lead the field through turn one with Pitt and Toseland in close pursuit. Walker was an early fourth position ahead of Haga and Bayliss. It was clear from early on that Bayliss was not going to have it all his own way in this encounter. Out in front Corser was having a battle royale with Andrew Pitt. On lap five Pitt was all but crashed and on the deck when he miraculously saved it off his knee when it looked way too far gone to have any hope of getting it back but he did exactly that! Toseland was running third and again sliding wildly on the Ten Kate Fireblade while Walker and Haga gave chase with Bayliss right on his tail. Then on lap nine Corser lost the front ad tried to save it off his knee but again skidded off into the kitty litter. That left Andrew Pitt alone out in front and with a handy number of bike lengths over second placed James Toseland. Troy Bayliss worked his way past Haga and Walker and then closed on second placed Toseland and started to challenge for that second place as they entered the second half of the race. Then on lap 17 of the 25 lap race Bayliss slid off into the dirt! He quickly remounted and got back in the race but had slipped well down the order. That left only Toseland on the tail of Pitt. But then on lap 18 Toseland also went dirt tracking! Unbelievable stuff! Bayliss was down in 12th after his excursion into the gravel while Toseland's similar mistake had seen him only relegated down the order with 7 laps to run. That left Pitt by his lonesome out in front while a busy battle over second place was being waged between Haga, Barros and Walker. In the closing laps Barros got away from Haga and Walker who were left to battle over the final spot on the podium. Meanwhile Andrew Pitt was still running around by himself. Pitt brought the R1 home to his first ever World Superbike race win while Barros brought home second place ahead of Haga. Toseland salvaged eighth place and Bayliss 12th after their off track excursions. Josh Brookes crashed out of the race and took now points from Misano while Steve Martin and the Foggy Petronas squad again could not convert their fantastic performance in qualifying into race results as their 100cc disadvantage to the full 1,000cc machines again just too telling come race day. Haga's third place finish promoted him into second place in the championship, 94 points adrift of Troy Bayliss. The Superbike World Championship now enters a four week break before reconvening at Brno on July 23.
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