Biaggi extends lead

Max Biaggi moved a step closer to securing the World Superbike Championship after almost doubling his lead over nearest rival Leon Haslam at Brno in the Czech Republic.

The Italian had entered the weekend 37 points clear of his British rival, but his second place in race one and victory in race two saw him open that advantage up to 68 points.

Haslam could only manage an eighth and a 10th place and he now has plenty of work to do in the remaining four rounds if he is to have any hope of taking the title.

But there was cause for celebration for another Briton as Jonathan Rea took the race one spoils for Ten Kate Honda.

Biaggi had been fancied to simply waltz away from the pack on the undulating Czech track, but the Northern Irishman produced a sensational move around the outside of the final turn to overtake the Aprilia rider and assume the lead at the end of the opening lap.

And he never looked back from there as he eventually triumphed by a margin of three seconds to take his third win of the season.

After dropping back in the early going Biaggi worked his way through to second, ahead of the Sterilgarda Yamaha of Cal Crutchlow with Sylvain Guintoli, Ruben Xaus and Noriyuki Haga rounding out the top six.

But Biaggi was the dominant force in race two as he overtook Rea on lap seven and simply rode away from the field to take his ninth success of the season.

Rea, who has moved up to third in the standings, came in second while Michel Fabrizio rounded out the podium for Ducati.

James Toseland took a solid fourth place on his Yamaha and was followed home by Haga and Carlos Checa.