PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKI SMITH
Tomorrow three-time World Superbike champ Troy Bayliss will make his debut on the number 21 Ducati Scrambler-inspired 1100cc machine in the AMA Pro Flat Track series at the Springfield Mile in Springfield, Illinois on May 24. The 45-year-old Australian road race legend is no stranger to flat track racing, running his own one-off flat track event—the Troy Bayliss Classic in Taree, Australia. But he’s about to go up against arguably the best flat track racers in the world on a mile track with no front brakes at one of the championship’s legendary venues.
A tough task, but Bayliss is no slouch on a motorcycle. So it’s really anybody’s guess as to how he’s going stack up against the series’ regulars when the twins take to the track for the first time in 2015 at Springfield.
Perhaps the best guess is the guys who have raced against him at the Troy Bayliss Classic.
“It’s just a matter of time until he gets comfortable on the bike he’s racing until he’s competitive, and we might even see him running at or near the front of the pack before too long,” said Sammy Halbert. “It’s really hard to predict though, it could be a struggle for a while but he’s a determined racer and will make a splash on the flat track scene.”
Halbert also felt that the track at Springfield would play into Bayliss’ and the Ducati’s favor.
“The Springfield Mile will probably be his and the Ducati’s best track, so I look for him to be really competitive when we go back to Springfield in September for the last Mile race of the season,” said Halbert.
Henry Wiles vouched for Bayliss as well.
“I think he’s a great candidate to come over and do what we’re doing,” said Henry Wiles. “He definitely qualifies, he’s raced on dirt before.”
The TT specialist did have a word of caution thou.
“The Springfield Mile, it’s very deceiving,” Wiles said. “We get going around there so smooth-looking. Whenever you see footage of it, it looks slow because it’s such a large track, but we’re going 90 mph around the corners.
“I’m thinking back to the first time I rode a twin on a Mile. I’m thinking what it was like, and I’m thinking of some of the things he might experience. But you’re comparing apples to grapes because he’s already a three-time world champion.”
The reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees felt that biggest adjustment for Bayliss would be the lack of a front brake.
“He’s going to have to get used to having no front brake, just getting used to sliding the bike around,” said Mees. “I know he ran really tight racing before, but he’s got to get used to running tight racing and no front brake. I’m sure he’s used to the speed, there’s no doubt.”
The main consensus-they were all looking forward to having him as a new addition to the championship.
“I think it’s awesome,” Wiles said. “I got to know Troy [Bayliss] a little bit the last few times I went over there. He’s a great guy. He’s great for motorcycle racing. He does a lot of stuff over there, and to be able to come in and ride the Ducati—it’s a fast bike, and also a bike I rode—I think he’s going to have a lot of fun.”
Mee’s also gave him props for having a crack at it.
“I think it’s really cool he’s got the guts to saddle up and give it a go,” Mees said. “A lot of world-class riders of his stature would probably shy against it because of ego or what not. I think him coming out and doing it is pretty cool.”
As for Halbert, he wasn’t going to count the World champ out.
“I’m excited to race with him again,” Halbert said. “It’s probably one of the coolest things to happen to flat track in a long time. I think he’s going to come in with something to prove and will surprise a lot of people.”
