Bayliss - Want's to race

There is no Spies in the series this year. With a year under his belt and the bike finding even more power during the off season, he more than likely would have shattered his own rookie records. With Haga and Fabrizio struggling like they are, its not hard to imagine him winning 20+ of the 26 races. As of now, i dont think there is anyone in the field that GP is drooling to sign. Its a great series with a bunch of really good riders, but no one who stands head and shoulders above the rest. I have said it before, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE NICKY IN WSBK. I really believe that Nicky on any of the top bikes would kick ... and take names and accomplish something no other rider in the history of racing has done. I dont see him winning another GP title and would rather see him winning WSBK championships than running around in 5-7th in GP.If Nick was to somehow get locked out of a factory ride next year, maybe Ducati would pay him enough to come change the fortunes of the Xerox team in WSBK. I can only dream. Once they go back to 1000's in GP, his fortunes will change a bit but i dont see him winning another title, top 3 maybe.

torro said:

"The two-day run at Mugello, the first time Bayliss had ridden a superbike in 18 months, saw him lap in a time of 1 minute 51.9 seconds on race tyres, after the first day had been conditioned by heavy rain."

Dude...for comparison Fabrizio's Mugello Test 2010 April:

"Having regained feeling with the front brake, Michel and his technicians made other refinements to the set-up of the 1198, to build the rider's confidence still further. Lap times were good and consistently fast, with a best time of 1'52.6, on a race tyre."

Well, it seems the old dog still has some spirit left inside...

I am wondering if he gets at least a wild card ride this year from Xerox.

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I would not read to awful much into those times, the article also went on to say that after they had identified the brake problem they were seeking, the testing ended early so Fabrizio could rest his injured groin. I believe Bayliss might have first hand info that Ducati is going to get a performance allowance for next year and is licking his chops at the prospect of riding a championship bike with 10-15 more HP. It will be interesting to see what is done. Will the rulebook be followed and have weight reductions, or will they go straight to restrictor plate change. Dropping 3kgs would be like picking up 1 -1 1/2 HP. They are lobbying for much more than that.

torro said:

I am wondering if he gets at least a wild card ride this year from Xerox.

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Hell, I'm thinking he might get 7 'wild card' races this year, starting at Miller.  If he's ready to go, why wait 'till next year?  Give him one of Haga and Fabi's spares and turn him loose!



I suspect Ducati would like to see their bike on the podium once in a while....  

mylexicon said:

Ducati has got to do something b/c Haga is not giving it his all anymore, and Fabrizio is not someone you can build a team around, imo.



Bayliss may be a bit over the hill, but who else are they going to get to spearhead their program?

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Just curious, what makes you say that he is over the hill? I'm guessing your basing that on his age?



Bayliss left the sport on top of his game and winning championships that's why I think he wants to give it another go.



I feel that if he had left getting his ... kicked but wanted to ride again like the current scenario there would be some

serious counselling going on.



I would put a pretty hefty bet down that if he does come back and break Foggy's record that Foggy would come out

straight away and make some Gardner type statement like when Mick was whoopin' every one that there just ins't the

depth of talent!



Cheers



The Gecko Hunter

povol said:

I would not read to awful much into those times, the article also went on to say that after they had identified the brake problem they were seeking, the testing ended early so Fabrizio could rest his injured groin. I believe Bayliss might have first hand info that Ducati is going to get a performance allowance for next year and is licking his chops at the prospect of riding a championship bike with 10-15 more HP. It will be interesting to see what is done. Will the rulebook be followed and have weight reductions, or will they go straight to restrictor plate change. Dropping 3kgs would be like picking up 1 -1 1/2 HP. They are lobbying for much more than that.

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Testing last year at Mugello, Haga managed 1'52.3. When Bayliss tested the GP09 there he managed a 1'51.2, so a 1'51.9 having not ridden for so long is bloody impressive IMO.



Link



According to the rules, Ducati should have picked up a 3kg weight reduction after Valencia with their averaged event average being more than 5pts less than the fours and Haslam leading. Unless, of course, they are already at minimum weight, but I doubt that given last years performances by the Xerox team.

yamaka46 said:

Testing last year at Mugello, Haga managed 1'52.3. When Bayliss tested the GP09 there he managed a 1'51.2, so a 1'51.9 having not ridden for so long is bloody impressive IMO.



Link



According to the rules, Ducati should have picked up a 3kg weight reduction after Valencia with their averaged event average being more than 5pts less than the fours and Haslam leading. Unless, of course, they are already at minimum weight, but I doubt that given last years performances by the Xerox team.

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That was discussed at the time and as of yet, not a word has been spoken by the FIM about any changes. The rule must not be an iron clad rule, just an arbitrary guideline.

Gecko Hunter said:

Just curious, what makes you say that he is over the hill? I'm guessing your basing that on his age?



Bayliss left the sport on top of his game and winning championships that's why I think he wants to give it another go.



I feel that if he had left getting his ... kicked but wanted to ride again like the current scenario there would be some

serious counselling going on.



I would put a pretty hefty bet down that if he does come back and break Foggy's record that Foggy would come out

straight away and make some Gardner type statement like when Mick was whoopin' every one that there just ins't the

depth of talent!



Cheers



The Gecko Hunter

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Yeah, his age is why I say he is over the hill. He left at the top and his testing times prove he still has good speed, but at his age it's a bit difficult for a manufacturer to build a program around him.



I rate Bayliss very highly, but I think 2008 and 2011 are very different seasons. In 2008 Bayliss had the brand new 1098R, but now Ducati are running the 1198, I believe, b/c the R homologation models don't meet the new homologation quantities. I suppose WSBK could reduce the weight or increase the size of the air intake, but if no changes are made I don't see Bayliss having a successful return.

Yeah now that Spies left he wants back in

mylexicon said:

In 2008 Bayliss had the brand new 1098R, but now Ducati are running the 1198, I believe, b/c the R homologation models don't meet the new homologation quantities.

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the 1098/1198 factory bikes were always 1200cc.



1098 and 1098S are 1100cc and their succesors 1198/1198S are 100cc more but i think there is no difference between the 1098R and the 1198R. both R versions were 1200cc so the factory bikes could be based on them. R models are made so they can meet any homologation rules.

SprogTheDog said:

That guy is just one of those special talents that only come along once in a while and he ran away with it.

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This was my point.



I was also being a little mischievous towards british posters happy about and acclaiming haslam's success (not that you shouldn't be doing so) at age 27 when many were saying in 2007 that stoner's success that year at age 21 must be all down to the bike since if he was any good he would have won championships earlier, presumably in 2006 on the lcr or the junior class world championships on non-factory equipment; I seem to recall haslam similarly not winning the 2004 wsbk championship for renegade or several bsb championships when not on top equipment.

double

bill88 said:

the 1098/1198 factory bikes were always 1200cc.



1098 and 1098S are 1100cc and their succesors 1198/1198S are 100cc more but i think there is no difference between the 1098R and the 1198R. both R versions were 1200cc so the factory bikes could be based on them. R models are made so they can meet any homologation rules.

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I'm not talking about displacement. The R homologation models are fitted with dozens of racing parts that can't be fitted after homologation. The twins have to use stock pistons. During the 1098R era, the engine internals were entirely titanium, and the crankshaft was counterbalanced with high quality heavy metals. Also, the subframes on the R model were made of magnesium.



In 2008 the homologation quantity was still 500 bikes. Homologation has been raised to 3,000 units. I don't think they are racing the R models anymore unless they have special dispensation. They are probably racing the stock 1198 and then branding it as an R model to improve sales. I don't believe the 1098R/1198R is made is sufficient quantities to qualify for WSBK competition.

SprogTheDog said:

It may not have hoards of big names, but you cant deny theres big talent on the grid this year.

I know im going to be biased, but just the brits alone are kicking .... Haslam is riding better than ever, rea is getting faster and faster & crutchlow will be fighting for podiums every round. Great to see toseland getting back on form to.

Getting bayliss back though would be fantastic.

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I second this; all the brits are outstanding this year and of Bayliss was to make a come back would just be the icing on the cake!

mylexicon said:

Yeah, his age is why I say he is over the hill. He left at the top and his testing times prove he still has good speed, but at his age it's a bit difficult for a manufacturer to build a program around him.



I rate Bayliss very highly, but I think 2008 and 2011 are very different seasons. In 2008 Bayliss had the brand new 1098R, but now Ducati are running the 1198, I believe, b/c the R homologation models don't meet the new homologation quantities. I suppose WSBK could reduce the weight or increase the size of the air intake, but if no changes are made I don't see Bayliss having a successful return.

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Apparently his time round Mugello was the fastest WSBK time on race tyres ever despite having very little dry running, never having ridden the 2010 bike before, and not having ridden hard since his test of the GP09 last year. I think your opinion of "over the hill" and Bayliss' are rather different.



Regardless of the differences between the 2008 and 2010 bikes, Bayliss managed a faster lap on the 2010 bike than either of the currently contracted Xerox lads. What evidence is there to support your theory that he'd not be competitive?

Haga pensioned off bye bye ?



Ducati will wholeheartedly support Troy Bayliss’s bid to make a dramatic return to the World Superbike championship in 2011.



Bayliss stunned the racing world earlier this month when he declared his intention to step out of retirement and return to World Superbikes next season – two years after he walked away from the sport.



The Aussie retired at the end of the 2008 campaign after clinching his third WSB crown to spend more time with his wife and three children.



But retirement has not sat well with Bayliss, who put all team bosses on red alert at the recent Monza round when he unveiled plans for a shock comeback.



The 2006 Valencia MotoGP winner though is synonymous with Ducati having won all of his world titles for the Bologna factory.



It is unthinkable to imagine him returning for a rival manufacturer, and Ducati boss Filippo Preziosi told MCN that if Bayliss did finalise plans for a 2011 return, all efforts would be made to accommodate the 41-year-old on an 1198.



“Of course we would be happy to listen to what Troy says and do our best to help him, “said Preziosi.



Bayliss impressed during a Mugello test session last week when he tried to give engineers crucial feedback on the factory 1198 that has struggled to make an impact in 2010.



Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga has endured a torrid season and trails series leader Leon Haslam by a whopping 116-points after just six rounds. And it was perhaps no coincidence that Bayliss’s comeback revelation sparked a sudden revival in Michel Fabrizio, who ended a dismal run with a victory in the first race in Kyalami last weekend.



Preziosi said the door was open for Bayliss to return, but Ducati would not exert any pressure on him.



He added: “My position is the same as 2008. At that time we were convinced that Troy could win again but his decision was not related to the technical or economic side, but it was a personal and family decision for him.



"We didn’t push him to try and convince him to stay and we won’t do it again. But of course we are more than linked with Troy and we will be happy for him to return with us.”

yamaka46 said:

Apparently his time round Mugello was the fastest WSBK time on race tyres ever

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compared to what??? wsbk has, to my knowledge, never run at mugello. maybe other testers but what does that prove?

Please don't do it - nothing to prove - unless of course you win another WC - then you will be some sort of superman.

Son of Doohan said:

Please don't do it - nothing to prove - unless of course you win another WC - then you will be some sort of superman.

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No no no, there is only one "superman" in motoracing, his name is Valentino Rossi.



EDIT: Oh wait, disregard above sarcastic comment, this is the superbike board. All the crazy people are stuck on the GP board.

9537:SuperTroy.jpg]

Spies would whip him like a 7 year old at Wal Mart on a Superbike