Troy Bayliss has won the World Superbike title for a third time.

The Australian finished third in the first of two races at Magny-Cours to build up an insurmountable lead at the top of the drivers' championship.

The 39-year-old Xerox Ducati rider is to retire at the end of the season after winning titles in 2001 and 2006.

The last round of the championship will take place with the final two races of the season at Portimao in Portugal during November.

Race 1, Magny-Cours, France:

1. Two years for soldier's shooting ...
Rossi takes win as Stoner crashes ...
Ronaldo faces three-month lay-off ... Noriyuki Haga, (Jpn) Yamaha, 38 minutes, 33.367 seconds.

2. Fonsi Nieto, (Spa) Suzuki @ 6.223 secs

3. Troy Bayliss, (Aus) Ducati @ 6.875

4. Max Biaggi, (Ita) Ducati @ 7.237

5. Max Neukirchner, (Ger) @ Suzuki, 8.925

6. Troy Corser, (Aus) Yamaha @ 10.714

7. Carlo Checa, (Spa), Honda @ 16.176

8. Yukio Kagayama, (Jpn) Suzuki @ 22.661

9. Kenan Sofuoglu, (Tur) Honda @ 27.224

10. Gregorio Lavilla, (Spa) Honda @ 31.300

(BBC)

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