WSBK: Bayliss Finishes on Top

The two victories, number ten and 11 on the season in this championship-winning season, gives Bayliss 52 career WSBK wins over nine seasons. Bayliss also recorded his 26th pole in Portimao.

This was the perfect end to my racing career, to finish with pole and a double win, an absolute fantastic result, says Bayliss. Ive been doing this for many years and it was a long way to come but I got here, and now Im at the end of my career. I have a great team behind me and I thank all of them and the sponsors because you cant do this without those guys. My careers come to an end; Ive won the championship and finished my career in one piece so it's incredible really.

Bayliss jumped out to an early lead in Race 1. The Ducati rider finished the first lap with a lead of just under a second, but the gap grew wider after each of the first nine laps, increasing to 7.566 seconds after lap nine. Following in Bayliss wake was a pack of seven riders riding in close formation, separated by less than two seconds.

We had a dream start today. I was a little hesitant before Race 1 because none of us had done a lot of laps here so we werent sure for the tires but I think everyone was pretty much on the same rear, says Bayliss. The gap behind me got bigger and bigger which surprised me but I heard that there was a big battle behind me which worked to my advantage.

Hanspree Ten Kate Hondas Carlos Checa finally emerged from the pack to draw closer to Bayliss but it was not enough as the Ducati rider won with a 2.207 second lead. Yamaha Motor Italias Troy Corser rounded out the podium.

The second race saw Bayliss again taking the early lead.

Another Ducati rider, Ruben Xaus of the satellite team Sterilgarda Go Eleven kept pace with Bayliss in the first few laps of Race 2 until he crashed out on lap ten. Checa was also in contention but was forced off the track after Xaus crashed just ahead of him. Checa was able to stay on his bike but the detour dropped him to seventh.

In the second race, everything felt good again and I was able to fight my way to the front, says Checa. Unfortunately, things happened that were beyond our control, but this track is fantastic because, in the tarmac run-off, I was able to avoid first Ruben and then his bike. When Dani Pedrosa crashes in front of you, you hardly notice. But when Ruben crashes in front of you, you can hardly see the track it is just arms and legs everywhere!

Xaus and Checas misfortune opened the door for Bayliss Xerox Ducati teammate Michel Fabrizio to assume the runner-up spot. Fabrizio came all the way from tenth place to finish second behind Bayliss.

Wildcard entrant Leon Haslam of HM Plant Honda finished third, denying Alstare Suzukis Max Neukirchner the final podium spot by less than a second.