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World Superbike Championship Round 8: Misano track for three laps like a mechanical bull. He just missed out on a point, and that was a source of deep disappointment to him. The'mood of Pier-Francesco Chili, after another pair of machineryinspired dejection sessions, was not hard to gauge. Twelfth and tenth were the reasons, with the experienced Italian highly disenamored after decent showings in the last few rounds. Back to square zero, as rumors about Suzuki and Alstare's continued involvement in World Superbike continued to do the rounds. Troy Corser was once more in the wars, results wise at least, pussyfooting at a track where once he roared as recently as last year. He was again complaining of vibrations and the like, with tire troubles and a visible lack of the same confidence he showed in the early season. "The first six laps of race one were fine, at a good race speed, then I had a strong vibration from the front tire," said Corser, not for the first time. "Grip was also difficult on the rear wheel, and keeping the power on the ground was proving to be impossible. For the second part of race two I had no choice but to use the same tires that I had in the first part, and after a few corners I had the same problems as I did in race one." His up-and-down season has now swept to a bit of a low, with only one podium finish in the last nine attempts. In the same time scale, Bayliss has had six, including four wins. Seventy-one points adrift of the championship lead, Corser and Aprilia are suffering - possibly terminally. It was not all doom and gloom and bitterness, however. Even for a rider like Peter Goddard, who was showing off one of his two new charges in public for the first time. With his baby daughter Demi safely tucked up in bed in Australia, it was the Benelli that made its debut, in all its threecylindered glory. Short-lived glory, it transpired, as a busted camshaft (in race one) and a crash (after decking out his engine cases, through the fiberglass) put paid to any chance of otherwise respectable points-scoring fmishes. In these circumstances, everyone could be forgiven for being down, but not a bit of it, Goddard was bang up for another crack at it at Laguna, especially now that his fledgling team has seen the magnitude of the task ahead of them, and will now redouble their efforts to be competitive. "The machine developed a little noise from the top end in race one so I decided to pull in rather than risk a crash or more serious damage," Goddard said. "The engine cases hit the ground in the second part of the chicane, and it lifted the front of the machine straight off the ground. We 10 JULY 4, 2001 • eye I • same sort of nightmare which befell Corser at Monza for even his closest challenger Edwards to get three points ahead - and only if Edwards scores max points on home soil. Well, never say never, as his opponents will be chanting like a mantra from now until then. RACE ONE had some better tires for the bike today, but only today, but we owe Dunlop some thanks for giving us them because they made a difference to the competitiveness of the bike." Not yet ready to race, but needing the practice, there wasn't a single person in Misano who did not welcome another tasty canister to World Superbike's spice rack. Bostrom's return to full form, if not full fitness, was complete at Misano, but the Californian confirmed after the race that his shoulder hurt like hell and will need an operation, possibly after Laguna, to repair his shoulder cartilage. He spoke about this, and other things in a post-race interview. "My shoulder was really hurting, but I had to push on anyway," Bostrom said. "Both Troy Bayliss and I had some fast and some slow points on the track, but that's what racing is all about. I did a really good lap and couldn't believe that [Neil] Hodgson came past me! I thought, 'Hey, if he's that fast let him go,' but I saw he had a lot of wheelspin and I kept the presn __ s There was plenty to smile about on the podium as the Ducat; bop ruled Mlsano. Ben Bostrom (left) and Troy Bayliss (right) finished one-two in both races, though the order was different in each. sure on. I'm really glad I won a race, it sets me up perfectly for Laguna." Bayliss apparently needs nothing now except good luck - the one thing all the top contenders have run out of spectacularly this season - to take rum into the realms of untouchability. It is, of course, way too early to start thinking about title wins, but with the tide inexorably turning in his direction, Bayliss has never looked more relaxed, confident or just plain up for the job as he does now. The quickest of the quick learners, it is easy to forget that this is still his first absolutely full World Superbike season. With the next race at Laguna, featuring some of the strongest riders the AMA can muster as well, there may be a another few tricks up the sleeves of the opposition, permanent or otherwise - but Bayliss is going to have to suffer the Edwards took the holeshot into turn one followed by Bostrom. Two corners later and Bostrom had snatched the lead from Corser, who had taken the lead. Edwards filtered into the stream third with Hodgson fourth. Giovanni Bussei and Ulm crashed out in the same incident, when they tangled in a battle of the privateers. Edwards appearing to be holding up Hodgson as Bostrom controlled the race from the front. Bayliss moved up the charts, taking fourth place from Hodgson in no time. By then, however, Bostrom pulled away from the pack, led by Edwards, as they slowed each other down with their jostling for position. Bayliss then started to work on getting past Edwards; he passed within a few attempts, reaving Hodgson behind. Bayliss, the man on the still upwardly mobile slope, took Edwards on the brakes leaving Hodgson and Lavilla behind, with Edwards then Corser and Lavilla slip streaming and passing Hodgson on the brakes. With everyone out of the way, Bayliss started hunting down Bostrom. Lavilla, meanwhile, was hot on the heels of Edwards and performed a fantastic outbraking maneuver to take third place. A bit too fantastic, perhaps, in the final analysis. Still in control, Bostrom enjoyed his run at the front, but Bayliss continued his attack while Lavilla, free of Edwards, was also trying for a taste of second. Bayliss must have received a message from the pits, because he quickly upped his pace, crossing the line only marginally behind Bostrom after two-thirds distance. Corser, dropped off from the back of Edwards, was plainly toiling toward the end, with seemingly nothing left at all. Bostrom was working hard to fend off the closing Bayliss in the last few laps, while behind them Hodgson took Corser, though Corser didn't let him get away and he repassed him almost instantly as Hodgson faded on worn tires. Okada, coming slowly, was soon on the tail of Hodgson, while Yanagawa chased Corser's fading star. Bayliss moved in close to Bostrom, but it was difficult to judge if he had resigned to play it safe and stay in second place. By the 20th lap, Regis Laconi had caught and passed Hodgson to take