Bayliss signs off with double win

Bayliss is retiring as a three-time world champion

Troy Bayliss described his double win at Portimao as the "perfect way to end" his World Superbike career.

The Australian had already guaranteed his third world championship before proceedings began in Portugal.

But the Ducati Xerox rider, 39, signed off in style by winning both races and admitted "I'm a bit lost for words.

"It's a long road, but my career has come to an end and and I've finished it off with two wins. It's a perfect time to go out."

Bayliss began race one on pole and surged ahead from the start while team-mate Fabrizio Michel took out Max Biagi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven) on the first corner.

He never surrendered his lead and went on to beat Carlos Checa (Honda) by just over two seconds. Troy Corser completed the rostrum in third while Briton Jonathan Rea (Honda) finished fourth.

Leon Haslam (Honda) started the race sixth on the grid and finished one place down in seventh while Cal Crutchlow's race ended in disappointment as he retired after lap 35.

Bayliss then cruised to victory in the second race of the day to complete his 11th victory of the season.

He had to battle to seal his second win, though, after he slipped back to fourth after a poor start.

Jakob Smrz (Guandalini Racing) and Rea headed the field after the first corner but Bayliss clawed his way back to win by over three seconds from Fabrizio for a Ducati one-two.

The pair were joined on the podium by Haslam who rose from seventh on the grid to pick up his first podium of the season.

Haslam said: "It's what I've been looking for. To have a good finish and to get on the rostrum is a great way to end the season."

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Portugal Grand Prix - race result 1:
1 T Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 38:48.373
2 C Checa (Spn) Honda 38:50.580
3 T Corser (Aus) Yamaha 38:55.345
4 J Rea (GB) Honda 39:03.601
5 F Nieto (Sp) Suzuki 39:04.499
6 G Lavilla (Sp) Honda 39:06.525
7 L Haslam (GB) Honda 39:07.312
8 R Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda 39:09.315
9 R Xaus (Sp) Ducati 39:20.391
10 R Laconi (Fr) Kawasaki 39:21.244

Race 2 result:

1 T Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 38mins 26.125secs
2 M Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati 38:29.763
3 L Haslam (GB) Honda 38:30.481
4 M Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki 38:31.108
5 F Nieto (Spn) Suzuki 38:32.900
6 T Corser (Aus) Yamaha 38:33.528
7 C Checa (Spn) Honda 38:33.703
8 G Lavilla (Spn) Honda 38:42.238
9 C Crutchlow (GB) Honda 38:42.409
10 R Laconi (Fr) Kawasaki 38:42.571

Championship Standings:
1 T Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 460pts
2 T Corser (Aus) Yamaha 342
3 N Haga (Jpn) Yamaha 327
4 C Checa (Spn) Honda 313
5 M Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki 311
6 F Nieto (Spn) Suzuki 256
7 M Biaggi (Ita) Ducati 238
8 M Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati 223
9 R Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda 206
10 R Xaus (Spn) Ducati 178

Manufacturers championship standings:
1 Ducati 570pts
2 Yamaha 487
3 Honda 415
4 Suzuki 408
5 Kawasaki 94