2006 SBK Corona Extra World SuperBike Championship Round 8, Brands Hatch, UK, 6th August Race Report

  BAYLISS AND HAGA TAKE A RACE WIN EACH AT BRANDS

Round eight of the 2006 Corona Extra World Superbike Championship came to Brands Hatch in the UK at the weekend and with a crowd attendance of 115,000 people who enjoyed the race action in hot sunny conditions. Troy Bayliss gave the crowd an amazing display of riding by beating Britains James Toseland and Nori Haga in race one, but Yamaha's Nori Haga would put things right by beating Troy Bayliss in race two in a thrilling battle in front of the cheering crowds, Haga's team-mate Andrew Pitt claimed the final spot on the podium. Troy Bayliss now leads the championship by 77 points (307 points) ahead of of Nori Haga (230 points) with James Toseland in third on 219 points.

Race One. In the 25-lap race of the day Yamaha's Nori Haga led most of the race ahead of Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss, the Japanese star could'nt hold of the fast charging Aussie as Bayliss took the lead. Winston Ten Kate Honda rider James Toseland passed Nori Haga and set off after Bayliss but could not close down the 1.6 second gap Bayliss had put on him. Troy Bayliss claimed yet another win of 2006 ahead of Britains James Toseland with a dissapointed Nori Haga in third.

Race Two. Had all the hallmarks of the first race as Troy Bayliss set out to make it a double win at Brands Hatch. The Xerox Ducati rider led for most of the race until the fast charging Yamaha of Nori Haga passed Bayliss on lap 17 of the 25 lap race. Haga and Bayliss battled on in front of the cheering crowds, but it was going to be Nori Haga crossed the line to take his first race win 0f 2006 ahead of Bayliss. Yamaha's Andrew Pitt fought off PSG-1 Kawasaki's Regis Laconi to take the final place on the podium.

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP. A Yamaha 1-2 at brands hatch leaves the World Supersport Championship in a state of complete parity between the main warring factions for the title itself. Broc Parkes' first win of the year, from his team-mate Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) and Kenan Sofuogla (Winston Ten Kate Honda) pushes him within 12 points of the championship lead, which is now shared on 131 points by Sebastion Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and Curtain. Charpentier was sixth in the race itself, still recovering from his pelvic and collarbone injuries, behind fourth placed Robbins Harms (Stiggy Motorsports) and top wildcard man, Cal Crutchlow (Northpoint Ekerold Honda). Stephan Chambom (Gil Motorsports Kawasaki) had a happy outing a Brands, taking seventh place.

ROUND NINE OF THE 2006 CORONA EXTRA WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP GOES TO ASSEN IN HOLLAND FROM 1ST-3RD SEPTEMBER.