World champion Troy Bayliss has wound up his magnificent world Superbike career in Portugal with yet another double win.

Bayliss was in his element at the all-new and critically acclaimed Algarve circuit in Portimao, starting from pole position before humbling the field with start to finish victories in both 22-lap races. It was his third clean sweep of the year.

Bayliss also set the fastest laps on his factory Ducati 1098 to complete the ‘full monty’ – a rarity in world Superbike competition.

"This was the perfect end to my racing career, to finish with pole and a double win, an absolute fantastic result," said Bayliss. "I've been doing this for many years and it was a long way to come but I got here, and now I'm at the end of my career."

"I have a great team behind me and I thank all of them and the sponsors because you can't do this without those guys. My career's come to an end; I've won the championship and finished my career in one piece so it's incredible really. I wish Michel (Fabrizio) lots of luck for next season and thanks to everyone who's supported me over the years."

While Bayliss was charging to his 51st and 52nd world Superbike victories on the undulating layout, attrition was playing its part in the scrap for second in the championship between Yamaha teammates Noriyuki Haga and Aussie Troy Corser, as well as Suzuki’s Max Neukirchner.

Neukirchner was the first to lose touch, crashing in race one before Haga had to retire with mechanical problems. The Japanese ace, who will replace Bayliss at Ducati next year, was then hit with a ride-through penalty in race two for jumping the start, dropping him back to a lowly 14th.

Meanwhile, Corser was an impressive third behind Spain’s Carlos Checa (Honda) in the opener, and he then finished sixth in race two to make it an Australian one-two in the championship for the second time in four years. Corser won the 2005 title from compatriot Chris Vermeulen.

"All I had to do in race two was finish near Nori and that was all I was doing," said Corser. "Once he went out, all I had to do was stay consistent and not crash. We all worked so hard to get to second this season I was not prepared to take too many risks."

"The action was scary sometimes today and it can be like that when the tracks have a lot of undulations. The asphalt was pretty slippery in some places because of all the rain and mud washed on it during practice."

Bayliss finished on 460pts after 14 rounds, from Corser (342), Haga (327), Checa (313) and Neukirchner (311).

On a racebike he describes as the best he’s ever ridden, Bayliss set a cracking pace on his Ducati in race two, finishing a staggering 22 seconds ahead of his elapsed time from the opener.

Bayliss’ teammate Michel Fabrizio was second in the final race of the year, ahead of Brit Leon Haslam (Honda), who was making a rare foray onto the Continent ahead of his full-time return to world Superbike next year.

A lot of the riders who competed at Portimao will return to the circuit this week for the first of the 2009 pre-season tests, including Max Biaggi, who will ride Aprilia’s all-new RSV4 1000cc machine alongside former MotoGP rider Shinya Nakano.

Yamaha will also return to Portimao with its two new riders, Ben Spies and Tom Sykes, while BMW, the second new entry in 2009, will test at Valencia on November 4-5 with Corser and Ruben Xaus.

Kenan Sofouglu made a superb return to world Supersport competition at Portimao, winning the race from recently crowned Aussie world champion Andrew Pitt, with Joan Lascorz making it a Honda trifecta in third.

After a lacklustre season in Superbike, Sofouglu will swap places with Brit Jonathan Rea for 2009 and attempt to win back the title he won in 2007, with Pitt his teammate.

Meanwhile, Bringelly’s Josh Brookes (Honda) failed in his bid to unseat the absent Rea and finish second in the championship when he was a disappointing 11th.

Broc Parkes (Yamaha) and Mark Aitchison (Triumph) made it three Aussies in the top 10, with Garry McCoy (Triumph) and Russell Holland (Honda) 13th and 14th.

Phillip Island will host the opening round of next year’s championship on March 1.