Haga takes Vallelunga double

Eurosport - Sun, 21 Sep 21:47:00 2008

Noriyuki Haga took a sensational double win in round 12 of the World Superbike Championship at Vallelunga in Italy, while championship leader Troy Bayliss spurned a chance to seal the title when he crashed out on the last lap of Race 2.

Bayliss will now have to wait until Magny-Cours to win the championship.

In Race 1, Yamaha's Japanese rider Haga powered to his fifth win this season by fending off Max Biaggi and Troy Corser, who were second and third respectively.

Max Neukirchner recovered from a poor start to grab fourth place from Carlos Checa and Bayliss, who struggled after making a wrong choice of tyre.

Race 2 saw Haga win again, although he had to work much harder under constant pressure from Bayliss.

But the win was sealed when Australian Bayliss crashed out at low speed on the final lap's hairpin.

Michel Fabrizio took second, with Corser getting third again.

Bayliss is still favourite for the title as he just has to score 21 points from his last four races.