Troy Bayliss: 2001 World Superbike Champion.

Australian Troy Bayliss wrapped up this year's 2001 World Superbike Championship in emphatic style in Assen on Sunday by becoming the first rider other than Carl Fogarty to score a double victory at the legendary Dutch track, which was in a fickle mood throughout the two races.

Ducati Infostrada rider Troy Bayliss secured the 2001 World Superbike Championship earlier than most people expected after mastering all the tricky conditions that Assen could throw at him in Sunday's penultimate round of the Championship.

Bayliss and Ducati teammate Ruben Xaus put on a textbook team performance for World Superbikes most successful manufacturer and took a 1-2 clean sweep in both races, the first of which being a rain-shortened 13 lap encounter instead of the scheduled 16. In both races the two red bikes circulated almost as one with Xaus acting as the perfect rear gunner for Bayliss, even if he gave his more experienced partner (and Infostrada team boss Davide Tardozzi) a few nervous moments by slipping into the lead for a short while in both races.

However it was a poor choice of front tyre by Colin Edwards for the second race that effectively sealed Bayliss' Championship success three weeks prior to the final round of the series at Imola. After chasing the fleeing Ducati pair for all he was worth to secure third place in race one, Edwards once again made a good start in race two and held down third place in the opening laps but he soon began falling back as his front tyre went away.

On lap seven GSE Racing's James Toseland relegated the 2000 World Champion to ninth position, thereby increasing the points margin between Bayliss and Edwards to 51 with only 50 left available at Imola. With no confidence turning into Assen's 17 corners, Edwards battled bravely throughout the race and eventually recovered some of his lost ground towards the end of the race as others fell back to finish 10th overall. However it was not enough and the 'Texan Tornado' graciously returned the No.1 plate to Ducati.

With a 51 point margin at the top of the table, Bayliss can afford to relax and enjoy the WSB Championship's first ever visit to Imola at the end of the month safe in the knowledge that in his first full season of World Superbike, he achieved what only Fred Merkel (the inaugural Champion), Doug Polen and Scott Russell had done before, he won the whole thing.