Toseland feels Bayliss' pain

World Superbike championship leader James Toseland had sympathy for title rival Troy Bayliss who needed hand surgery after a spectacular crash at Donington Park.

Bayliss, the reigning champion, was leading the first of two races before a spill at Coppice Corner gifted the lead to Toseland who went on to win the first race before a mechanical failure forced his retirement in the second.

"I will take what I can. I saw Troy go down right in front of me and it was not good," said Toseland, the 2004 world champion. "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."

Toseland hung on to his position at the top of the overall rankings with 115 points and 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 added: "Up to that point (the crash) 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."