Toseland wins thriller
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ByEurosport
Published 15/04/2007 at 14:19 GMT
James Toseland claimed a thrilling victory in race two of the Valencia World Superbike round, holding off Max Biaggi and Noriyuki Haga. The Sheffield rider prevailed in a titanic three-way scrap on the last lap to claim maximum points and extend his championship lead.
SUPERBIKE 2007 Losail Ten Kate Honda Toseland
Image credit: Reuters
Haga paid the price for a mistake while leading on the penultimate lap, while Biaggi will be delighted with second place having reeled the leaders in from some way back.
Race one winner Ruben Xaus looked as though he might make it a home double for Spain but faded as the race went on.
Less than a second covered a leading bunch of four for much of the race. Haga and Xaus battled manfully for the lead while Toseland and Troy Bayliss preferred to bide their time a couple of bike lengths back.
A Bayliss mistake on lap 12 allowed Biaggi into fourth, but the Italian immediately returned the gift, running wide and letting the defending champion back through
One lap later Bayliss lost two places as he ran over oil spilled onto the track and was forced to run wide into the gravel, and he finished an eventual sixth.
As the race wore on, Xaus fell off the pace, with Toseland and Haga pulling clear and enjoying a nip-and-tuck battle over the final five laps, with Biaggi just behind.
Haga looked in control before nearly high-siding and letting Toseland through to set up a frantic three-way battle on the last lap as Biaggi joined the melee.
Toseland eked out a lead of few bike lengths two corners from home, while Biaggi snatched second with an audacious move on Haga at the final turn.
The Briton extended his championship lead to 13 points over Biaggi, with Haga back in third.
Bayliss lost further ground on the points leaders, while Yamaha Italia man Troy Corser came in a disappointing ninth.
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