In a dramatic day in Germany, Ducati’s new full-time factory rider, Troy Bayliss won race one of the World Superbike Championship at Hockenheim, while Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga, facing a suspension that will cover the next two races, was victorious in race two.
Race one was a dog fight between several riders for the lead — eventually won by Bayliss, with Kawasaki’s Akira Yanagawa second, Haga third and Honda’s Colin Edwards (the WSB championship points’ leader) fourth.
Suzuki’s Pierfrancesco Chili was in the hunt for victory in race one before having tire problems and being forced to retire.
Race two saw Haga and Edwards battle to the wire, with Haga taking the victory and Edwards second. Chili was third in race two, with Bayliss fourth.
Edwards stretches his championship points’ lead to 40 over second place Chili. Edwards and Chili are becoming the only two riders with a realistic chance at the championship, provided Haga’s suspension is upheld (Yamaha is still protesting it).
Results Race One (Top 10)
1. Troy Bayliss (#21 - DUCATI) 2. Akira Yanagawa (#4 - KAWASAKI) 3. Noriyuki Haga (#41 - YAMAHA) 4. Colin Edwards (#2 - HONDA) 5. Aaron Slight (#111 - HONDA) 6. Andy Meklau (#13 - DUCATI) 7. Troy Corser (#3 - APRILIA) 8. Robert Ulm (#33 - DUCATI) 9. Alessandro Antonello (#30 - APRILIA) 10. Ben Bostrom (#155 - DUCATI)
Results Race Two (Top 10)
1. Noriyuki Haga (#41 - YAMAHA) 2. Colin Edwards (#2 - HONDA) 3. Pierfrancesco Chili (#7 - SUZUKI) 4. Troy Bayliss (#21 - DUCATI) 5. Aaron Slight (#111 - HONDA) 6. Troy Corser (#3 - APRILIA) 7. Alessandro Antonello (#30 - APRILIA) 8. Andy Meklau (#13 - DUCATI) 9. Robert Ulm (#33 - DUCATI) 10. Katsuaki Fujiwara (#9 - SUZUKI)
Championship Points Standings After Round Five of 13 (Top 10)
1. Colin Edwards (#2 - HONDA) 202 pts. 2. Pierfrancesco Chili (#7 - SUZUKI) 162 pts. 3. Noriyuki Haga (#41 - YAMAHA) 137 pts. 4. Troy Corser (#3 - APRILIA) 120 pts. 5. Akira Yanagawa (#4 - KAWASAKI) 99 pts. 6. Gregorio Lavilla (#6 - KAWASAKI) 71 pts. 7. Troy Bayliss (#21 - DUCATI) 64 pts. 8. Aaron Slight (#111 - HONDA) 58 pts. 8. Ben Bostrom (#155 - DUCATI) 58 pts. 9. Andy Meklau (#13 - DUCATI) 54 pts. 10. Hitoyasu Izutsu (#64 - KAWASAKI) 50 pts. 10. Katsuaki Fujiwara (#9 - SUZUKI) 50 pts.
