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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