Texan Ben Spies has produced a vintage performance in round seven of the world superbike title in Utah, crushing the field to post his second double win of the year.

The Yamaha rookie was in his element on home soil, following up his record-breaking seventh pole position of the year with two nine-second victories and a new lap record around Miller Motorsports Park, just outside of Salt Lake City.

Spies was trailed home by Spain’s Carlos Checa (Honda) in race one, and then Italy’s Michel Fabrizio in the second 21-lapper.

Race one was a two-part affair and results based on aggregate after Australia’s Karl Muggeridge crashed his Suzuki, forcing out the red flag.

Meanwhile, championship leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) was well off the pace after crashing heavily in practice, and Spies is now only 53pts behind at the halfway mark in the 14-round championship.

Wollongong’s Troy Corser finished 15th and 17th in the two races on his BMW, with Kawasaki’s Broc Parkes 11th in race two after retiring from the opener.

But out front it was all Spies, who continues to turn the title inside-out with his raw speed and race smarts.

“It’s good to get a double win here,” said Spies. “Unfortunately we know Haga’s not 100 percent, but you’ve got to capitalise on the weekend and we made up some points.”

Spies now has seven world superbike wins from just 14 races, and it should have been eight after his bike ran out of fuel at Monza when he was leading with the finish line in sight.

Checa, who was a double winner at Miller in 2008, was followed home by Fabrizio, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) and Jonathan Rea (Honda) in race one, but then crashed the second time around, leaving Fabrizio as the only rider with the pace to challenge Spies.

But even that wasn’t enough to frighten Spies, who eventually pulled away for another emphatic nine-second win.

Rea filed the last podium spot in race two, repeating his effort from the previous round. Biaggi and Kiyonari saw out the top five.

In world supersport, 2007 world champion Kenan Sofuoglu left his best until last, passing fellow Honda rider Eugene Laverty three corners from the finish to record his second win of the year.

Championship leader Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) was also jousting for the lead throughout, and he finished third, with just 0.521secs between him and Sofuoglu.

Polesitter Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) was fourth, ahead of Fabien Foret (Yamaha) and Aussie pair Garry McCoy (Triumph) and Andrew Pitt (Honda), who was forced to slice his way through the field from last on the grid after a heavy crash in qualifying.

McCoy’s teammate Gianluca Nannelli crashed on the final lap while battling for fifth with Foret.

Anthony West (Honda) was 10th, with Russell Holland (Honda) completing the Aussie representation in 21st. Mark Aitchison (Honda) crashed on lap one.

Crutchlow (135pts) still leads form Laverty (126), with Sofuoglu (108) looking ominous in third.

Pitt (73pts) now requires a huge second half of the year to retain his title.

MILLER RESULTS

Superbike race one: 21 laps

Fastest lap and new record: Spies – 1:48.965 (previous record: Checa – 1:49.703, 2008)

Superbike race two:

Fastest lap and new record: Spies – 1:48.768

Superbike standings (after round 7 of 14):

Supersport race: 18 laps

Fastest lap and founding record: Sofuoglu – 1:52.285

Current supersport standings (after round 7 of 13)

Next round: Misano, San Marino, June 19-21