After gracefully bowing out on top at Portimao last year, 3-time and still reigning World Superbike Champion, Troy Bayliss, seemed to have done everything perfectly. The danger with both politicians and racers (all careers end in failure) is knowing when to stop and Bayliss went out on the pinnacle of his form. Champion and race winner. Now rumors are circulating that retirement hasn’t been as easy going as his personality and that Troy wants to be Baylistic once again in the World Superbike paddock.

Bayliss is all set to make his Australian V8 Supercar debut but according to Italian magazine Motosprint (English translation) he predicts that four wheels won’t satisfy him and is on the lookout for a ride at the Imola round this weekend where he is Ducati’s guest.

Troy has not raced since the final round of the season last year although he has tested a Ducati MotoGP bike at Mugello. Maybe the taste of it was all he needed to get fired up again?

“I want to race in Superbikes again,” he told MotoSprint. “I’ll be looking around here at Imola. It’s a shame that Ducati have already signed two riders for 2010, I feel that I could have done well next season.” Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi confirmed that Bayliss had approached him about racing. “Troy asked me if he could race when he landed, last Tuesday. But how could we satisfy his request? We don’t have the resources for three riders,” Motosprint quotes Tardozzi as saying.

link: MotoGPMatters.com

I must admit that I admired Troy’s decision to stop and move on to a new place in his life. He has been tremendously successful and is now retired without significant injury. To me, this turn of events is most unexpected and highly unlikely but time will tell.

What do you think? Will we see Bayliss dicing with Haga and Spies next year? Chime in with your views in the comments section below.

Everyone was excited about the return to Imola for the World Superbike circus. This is the circuit that decided the 2002 season between Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards (in Edward’s favor) and is the first meeting with Ben Spies in the points lead. However riders have turned only 2 laps in the first practice session before all coming in complaining about a lack of grip.

The live timing at the official site is frozen with just 5 minutes of the opening practice session run and riders completing no more than 2 laps. Ironically Troy Croser on the BMW is on top with surprise 250GP entrant and soon to be MotoGP star, Marco Simoncelli recording the 2nd fastest time on his Aprilia RSV4 World Superbike debut.

The grip problems seems to stem from the World Touring Car Championship racing from last weekend. No-one is sure what the problem is, too much cleaning or still some remaining oil but the riders are not happy and the teams are in a huddle with organizers whilst a solution is sought.

There is likely to be no more riding today.

Source: MotoGPMatters.com

This weekend’s American Superbike, World Superbike and MotoGP racing should offer compelling viewing for every race fan. Mat Madin competes for the last time on a road racer in American Superbike racing whilst battle is resumed in two feuds featuring Noriyuki Haga and Ben Spies in the World Superbike Championship and Valentino Rossi and his young team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in MotoGP. Light the blue touch paper and stand well back!


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