Motorcycling: Bayliss does the double for Ducati

(GETTY IMAGES)

Troy Bayliss holds a 27-point lead in the World Superbike Championship after scoring a double victory on Ducati's new 1098cc FO8 machine at Phillip Island, near Melbourne yesterday.

Two of his title rivals failed on the Australian track, with Max Biaggi crashing his Ducati twice, and Troy Corser incurring a 10-second penalty in race two and then falling off his Yamaha.

Bayliss said: "In the second race, the tyres were a little slower, but the bike was more consistent."

The Australian has now won three of the four opening races of the season on the Italian twin-cylinder machine, which competes against 1,000cc four-cylinder bikes from Japanese manufacturers.