World Superbike: Troy Bayliss Talks Phillip Island Progress
Gordon Ritchie | February 21, 2015
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
It was hardly a smooth re-introduction to World Superbike for Troy Bayliss at the Phillip Island season opener, but the three time World Champion gave it his all to qualify 14th and then get promoted to 13th on the grid after Leandro Mercado was made to start from the back row.
Bayliss suffered a malfunctioning bike in his first session on Friday and then to top it off—a massive highside exiting the top of Lukey Heights on Saturday. He still took part in Superpole 1, gave a good account and finished up looking forward to raceday.
“Yes, I have had a few dramas along the way,” said Bayliss. “I wanted top 10 but honestly where I finished on the grid is what I thought, close, and everything is heading in the right direction. Even this afternoon I was faster than I have been in the heat, so there should be a couple of things better again tomorrow. I am feeling pretty good, actually. I knew I was not coming here and having a win.”
Bayliss modified his first thought that the Ducati would be like sitting in his own chair after he got to grips with a full racebike and real competition.
“The bike is like an alien to me when I jumped on it,” he said. “I was so long off it and no testing or anything, but I did feel a little bit quick for a while. If I was going to do it this is the place to do it because I know the place pretty well. I’m all sorted for tomorrow. Honestly, I would love to be able to spin around in the 1:32s, but it depends on how hot it is going to be tomorrow. Even the top guys, they are going to slip into the high 1’31s or low 1’32s in the race. It will be interesting. If the first race is at 12 noon then the two races should be exactly the same.”
Gordon Ritchie | World Superbike Editor
You may not understand Ritchie and his Scottish accent if you had him on the phone, but you can definitely understand what he writes as our World Superbike editor.
