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Australia’s Troy Bayliss is set to quit world superbikes with a third world title after another commanding performance at the weekend.

The Ducati rider swept to another double victory at Brno in the Czech Republic, giving himself what could be an unassailable buffer.

The 2001 and 2006 world champion’s clean sweep saw his lead over second-placed German Max Neukirchner leap from 49 to 79 points with just five rounds remaining.

The veteran, who will retire at the end of this season, dramatically compensated for mediocre performances at Brno in the past two years.

Bayliss’s all-new 1098 factory Ducati proved too quick for compatriot Troy Corser’s Yamaha in race one while his Italian team-mate Michel Fabrizio followed him home in race two.

It was a welcome return to form for Bayliss, whose 47th and 48th world Superbike wins were his first since round four.

“I was feeling quite confident, but Corser was setting a good pace until two-thirds distance, so then I thought it was time to go,” Bayliss said.

“It took quite a while, and then in the end the guys behind were coming fast, but I didn’t have many laps to do and relaxed a bit.”

He started from pole position but it was Italian star Max Biaggi, on a Ducati, who got the jump in the opening 20-lapper.

Biaggi and the two Australians fought for the lead as the Italian set the pace from lap six before being reeled in.

As Bayliss took over the front-running Corser found himself unable to penetrate his countryman’s defence, finishing second for the fifth time in 2008.

Corser made the early running in race two but was struggling with rear wheel vibration from lap four.

Bayliss hit the lead just before halfway, powering to his third clean sweep of the year with a 0.928sec triumph over Fabrizio.

Biaggi was third in his first podium since round one.

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Carsguide takes a good look at HSV’s latest supercar…

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The 2009 Opel Insignia made its official debut at the British Motor Show this week, where the company also announced the European prices for the car. The Insignia will go on sale by the end of the year at a price starting 22,700 euros for the 115 hp 1.6 ECOTEC version.

The car will be launched with a range of seven engines that meet Euro 5 emissions standards and are mated to six-speed transmissions.

For the gas engines, the output ranges from 115 hp for the four-cylinder unit to 260 hp for the six-cylinder. The three new 2.0-liter direct-injection diesels carry power outputs from 110 to 160 hp.

The 2009 Insignia will be available in four different variants: base, Edition, Sport and top-of-the-line Cosmo.

The noise of other sports car makers getting their lunches eaten sounds just like the twelve cylinder engine in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS. A single RS sheep was caught in Italy’s Stelvio Pass, being shepherded by a DBS. This Vantage RS gets some shinier wheels and a coat of delicious black paint, but otherwise, it looks like it’s ready for the showroom floor. If anything could be cooler than a 600 hp Vantage packing twelve hi-rev punches, it’s the DBS… but frankly, the jury’s still out until we drive both of them (hint, Aston Martin…). Follow the link to check out the spy shots, and check out the gallery of hi-res pics below. Thanks for the tip, Des!

[Source: GT Spirit]