Toseland feels Bayliss' pain

Bayliss, the reigning champion, was leading the first of two races at the 2.5-mile Leicestershire circuit yesterday before a spill at Coppice Corner.

Scroll down to read more:

The Australian's crash gifted the lead to Toseland who went on to win the first race before a mechanical failure forced his retirement in the second.

Nevertheless, Toseland hung on to his position at the top of the overall rankings with 115 points.

The Isle of Man-based rider is five points clear of second-placed Max Biaggi while Noriyuki Haga occupies third place with 88 points.

Bayliss, who had started the day third in the championship standings and on pole position for the races, has now slipped to sixth on 64.

Toseland, the 2004 world champion, said: "I suppose you could say I had a bit of luck with Troy crashing in the first race because he was always going to be difficult to beat around Donington, he had been fast all through practice.

"But I will take what I can. I saw Troy go down right in front of me and it was not good.

"You do not high-side at Coppice and not feel it so I had a grimace inside my helmet because I knew it was going to be painful.

"Up to that point I had been concentrating so hard to stay with Troy because he had set such a hot pace, and although his crash meant I was in the lead and clear away from the group behind me, I still had a job to do and had to concentrate so hard until the end of the race."

After initial treatment at the circuit's medical centre, Bayliss was transferred to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary in Derby.

Bayliss said: "I closed the throttle going into the curve and the rear of the bike swung out of line."

And a Ducati Xerox spokesman added: "The little finger of Troy's right hand, his throttle hand, was all but stripped away, so he was taken to the DRI for plastic surgery.

"The crash left him pretty beaten up around the body too and there could be other injuries.

"But we expect Troy to be back on the bike in time for the next round at Valencia in a fortnight."

Corser was second to Toseland in the first race while Biaggi came home third.

And Biaggi led the second race until the last corner of the last lap when he ran wide and handed victory to Haga with Corser third.

Briton Dean Ellison was 15th in the first race and wildcard compatriot Aaron Zanotti 18th.

Ellison retired from the second race but Zanotti was 16th.