Bayliss secured the title close to manufacturer' Ducatti's factory

Brazilian Alex Barros won the opening race ahead of Britain's James Toseland, who moved into second in the standings.

Toseland opened a two-point lead over Nori Haga as he finished fifth at the second time of asking.

Bayliss, who first won in 2001, took the title for the Ducati Xerox team a few miles from the manufacturer's base.

"We worked well at the start of the season, the second half of the season has been up and down but we have won the title," said Bayliss.

"I've got a great team and I am comfortable on the Ducati. It's not been easy to win the title, it's been tough."

In the first race, Chris Walker took 12th place on the PSG1 Kawasaki and fellow Briton Craig Jones was 17th on the Foggy Petronas FP1.

In the second, Walker finished 14th to lie ninth in the points table with Jones taking 25th in the race to stand 27th.

World Superbikes results, Imola

Race 1:
1. Alex Barros, Brazil, Honda, 39 minutes, 0.096 seconds
2. James Toseland, Britain, Honda, 39:04.447
3. Andrew Pitt, Australia, Yamaha, 39:06.905
4. Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha, 39:11.275
5. Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati, 39:11.633
6. Lorenzo Lanzi, Italy, Ducati, 39:21.070
7. Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Kawasaki, 39:23.151
8. Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Honda, 39:23.843
9. Norick Abe, Japan, Yamaha, 39:27.385
10. Regis Laconi, France, Kawasaki, 39:29.256

Race 2:
1. Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati, 38:57.069
2. Alex Barros, Brazil, Honda, 38:58.482
3. Yukio Kagayama, Japan, Suzuki, 39:01.424
4. Andrew Pitt, Australia, Yamaha, 39:02.456
5. James Toseland, Britain, Honda, 39:03.487
6. Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha, 39:06.684
7. Lorenzo Lanzi, Italy, Ducati, 39:09.498
8. Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Honda, 39:11.964
9. Troy Corser, Australia, Suzuki, 39:16.777
10. Regis Laconi, France, Kawasaki, 39:17.646

World Championship Standings (After 11 of 12 rounds)