Championship leader, former WSB and BSB champion Troy Bayliss has just returned to World Superbikes this season after a very testing three years away riding in MotoGP. The 37 year old Australian racer’s return with Xerox Ducati was greatly anticipated by his fans (including LB’s Foxy), and thousands of them turned up last weekend at Brands Hatch to see him kick some serious butt.
LB’s Foxy got the chance to catch up her hero Troy, before his races at Brands to find out what went wrong for him in MotoGP, how he was feeling about his return to WSB and to have a chat about his future with Xerox Ducati.
Foxy: Troy, thank you for taking the time out for this interview with Londonbikers.
So Troy, are you glad to be back in WSB after three years away at MotoGP?
Troy: Yeah, pretty much. I’ve been here before and then I spent my time in GP, and I have come back here with the people who I sort of made it with before in World Superbikes. Yeah, so I’m quite comfortable.
Foxy: What do you think the problems for you were in MotoGP, why didn’t it go your way, because you're so competitive?
Troy: Well, the first year was great. I had three podiums on a brand new bike in the series. And then the second year we built a disastrous bike, in the end someone has to take it on the chin and that was me. Then the third year I was offered a job back here, but of course I just didn’t want to do it at the time because I was a bit hurt, so I went to ride a year with Honda which didn’t suit me. It just didn’t go how I wanted it to anyway and then half way through the year I badly broke my wrist which put an end to my season.
Unless you’re on the top bike there, you’re not going to win either and there was nothing else really coming up so we were already in talks with Ducati about coming back to WSB, so it just made sense that this was the place to come for me.
Foxy: Do you think that you could have done something different to have got better results out there?
Troy: Yeah, there is always something different, but it’s a really long story.
Foxy: It must have been very frustrating for you in the end!
Troy: In the end yeah, because it wasn’t happening and you feel like you’re banging your head against the wall, but sometimes it’s like that. You can’t have a great year every year and you have to have ups and downs; it’s like a big roller coaster this sport.
Foxy: I, for one are glad to see you back racing with the likes of Haga and Corser again. Has their pace changed in the last three years you were away?
Troy: Actually, everyone is exactly the same and errm… the guys have all matured a little, but I mean basically I remember them the same as when I was here in 2002. The last time I raced with Haga he was on an Aprilia and Corser was on an Aprilia too, but now they’ve both changed bikes and teams, they’re both very happy and comfortable at the moment and they’re both riding very well.
Foxy: Has spending time in MotoGP changed your riding style or attitude towards returning to WSB?
Troy: Well… I don’t think I have changed that much in my whole career, even since I was a kid I still ride the bike the same sort of way, I always look a little bit aggressive and maybe sometimes I look a little bit out of shape, but I actually think I’ve smoothed out a little bit over the years. I always feel in control and happy and confident in the way I ride.
Foxy: How are you feeling about this weekends races at Brands Hatch?
Troy: I’m looking forward to it because I’ve had enough of the hot weather and I knew when we came here we’d have some mixed conditions…
Foxy: Yes, I think we have got a bit of rain forecast for Sunday.. he he he..
Troy: Normally we have a least one or two wet sessions when we’re here, but I’m quietly confident in the whole weekend.
Foxy: Is it a circuit you like?
Troy: Err… Yes and no… I have has some good times here and it’s been a little bit harsh on me as well. But, I’ve never done the double here and I’d love to do that…
Foxy: Yeah, that would be really good!
And, your favourite part of the circuit is?
Troy: (Troy pauses) My favourite part of this circuit!
Foxy: Yes, we have quite a few members on our site that do track days here…
Troy: I like behind the pits, I’m not sure what the corners called at the top…
Foxy: What, at the back of the GP circuit? Or is it the one after Paddock Hill and then after Graham Hill?
Troy: Yeah, the ones after Paddock Hill. You come out of Graham Hill, yeah… then out of there and the left behind the pits and the next left as well… I’m not sure what it’s called…
Foxy: Ahhh, you mean Surtees? Oh, I crashed there last time I was here, someone took me clean out!
Troy: Ah really! Shit… Yeah... I really like that section.
Foxy: Who do you think will give you the most problems this weekend?
Troy: I think there are going to be few guys, James is going to go ok… for sure Haga and Corser as well.
Foxy: You are 73 points in the lead right now, and there are 250 points left until on the table...
Troy: Really? That many, wow… (Troy Laughs…)
Foxy: Are you confident that you can still win the championship?
Troy: I’m confident, for sure I’m confident… I mean, the last couple have been a little up and down. Where as before that, I looked like a little bit indestructible… it just goes to show you what racing is like and how things can change. Right now I’ve have a little bit of up and down time, now it’s time to go back up!
Foxy: That incident with Regis Lanconi in race one at Bryno causing you to crash out, lost you a lot of points. You must have felt annoyed?
Troy: Yeah, but I got over it quickly… I just went back to my camper and broke some windows and doors and stuff… (Troy and Foxy laugh) Nah… it was not a problem, within ten minutes I was as calm as anything.
Foxy: And then you had trouble with grip in race two and used softer tyres, what was the problem, track or tyres?
Troy: A little bit of everything, but.. It was just the conditions on the day and everyone was in the same sort of scenario, it just seemed like we, our bike, team… The whole combination, it just seemed like we just suffered a bit more from it. Because to go from where we’ve been lately and to really struggle that much…
Foxy: It was seven wins on the trot for you wasn’t it?
Troy: Yeah… it was just like I was in reverse. People were nearly sucking my mirrors off; they were coming past so fast… Ha ha ha…
Foxy: Do you have a strategy for the rest of the season?
Troy: At the moment it’s like, same as always… like, put my head down and just try and put a good weekend in the bag.
Foxy: Have you been asked to stay with Xerox Ducati next season?
Troy: Yep..
Foxy: You have… that’s fantastic…
It was said at the start of your racing career that ‘Your style of riding was described as too aggressive’. Would you say that has got you where you are today?
Troy: Mmm, well… For sure I’m aggressive, but I’m sure most people out there are, but honestly I don’t think I look as bad as I used to but, I don’t mind if I do… Actually, my bike doesn’t look as out of shape and out of control, its just the way my body works over the bike, which I’m sure I look busy, anyway I look like I’m wrestling with it all the time…
Foxy: But you’re actually quite at ease…
Troy: Yeah… maybe it’s just coz I’m too weak and I really got to wrestle it, I don’t know.. (Laughs)…
Foxy: Ok Troy, last question, what is your ultimate goal?
Troy: Erm... (Long Pause)… I don’t know!
Foxy: You don’t know!
Troy: No…
Foxy: You’re going to sick with WSB…
Troy: I’m like a gypsy…
Foxy: Ha ha ha…
Troy: I’ve been racing bikes for that long that everyone here is a gypsy, they just don’t realise it…
Foxy: I suppose you always on the road travelling aren’t you so…
Troy: Like, in World Superbikes is nothing like in GP…
Foxy: I heard that it’s a lot friendlier in WSB than in MotoGP…
Troy: But, I just hit the nail on the head, because it might be a big glamorous sport, everything is great but, we are all like gypsy’s in caravans… He he he..
Foxy: Ha ha.. I think you’ve got it there…
Thank you very much for the interview Troy…
Troy: Ok… Thank you!
Troy got the quickest time in the opening qualifying session at Brands Hatch on the Friday, completing the 3.703 mile circuit in 1m26.272 seconds.
Xerox Ducati had a whole new look for the weekend which was seen on Saturday for the first time, seeing Troy and Lorenzo in matching Superman leathers and helmets, to go with the launch of ‘The Superman Returns Ducati 999F06’ at Brands. All of this was in aide of a joint promotion between Ducati Corse, Warner Bros., Consumer Products and Suomy, with the launch of the ‘New’ Superman Returns blockbuster film. The bikes and leathers looked amazing, and stood out a mile amongst all of the other bikes out on track.
On Saturday, Troy got superpole with a blazing lap of 1m25.499seconds, this was his tenth pole position in his WSB career so far, and the fastest ever lap record of Brands Hatch circuit. On the front row next to him for the races on Sunday were Haga, Toseland and Muggeridge.
Sunday saw Troy get Ducati’s 250th win in WSB in the first race. This was to be Troy’s ninth victory this season. Bayliss had a mad first race with Haga, and Haga didn’t make it east in any way. James Toseland wasn’t far behind, but Troy managed get the gap he wanted to bring his Ducati 999R06 over the line with his usual style.
Race two and Bayliss again battled it out hard with Haga, but this time Noriyuki had the edge on Troy. It was another very close race with the two of them taking it in turns to lead, and the Japanese Yamaha rider Haga getting the win with Troy close behind in second.
Here are the results from the weekend:
Results - Race 1: 1, Bayliss (Xerox Ducati)
2, Toseland (Honda)
3, Haga (Yamaha)
4, Pitt (Yamaha)
5, Kagayama (Suzuki)
6, Corser (Suzuki)
7, Walker (Kawasaki)
8, Barros (Honda)
Race 2:1, Haga (Yamaha)
2, Bayliss (Xerox Ducati)
3, Pitt (Yamaha)
4, Lanconi (Kawasaki)
5, Toseland (Honda)
6, Corser (Suzuki)
7, Kagayama (Suzuki)
8, Walker (Kawasaki)
Championship Points: 1, Bayliss 307
2, Haga 230
3, Toseland 219
4, Corser 193
5, Barros 166
6, Pitt 157
7, Kagayama 126
8, Lanzi 96
Manufacturers Points: 1, Ducati 317
2, Honda 267
3, Suzuki 259
4, Yamaha 259
5, Kawasaki 140
6, Petronas 4.
You can see Troy racing at the next round of WSB at Assen on the 3/4 and 5th of September. You can catch this on ITV in the UK. You can also hear this interview on the current (episode 12)
Podcast. Londonbikers would also like to thank Julian Thomas from Ducati Corse for making this interview possible.
Related Linkswww.ducati.com www.troybayliss.comRelated Galleries WSB @ Brands '06 - Extra!WSB @ Brands '06 - Sunday #2WSB @ Brands '06 - Sunday #1WSB @ Brands '06 - Saturday #2WSB @ Brands '06 - Saturday #1WSB @ Brands '06 - Thurs/Fri
Related News
Related Articles
