Troy Bayliss Classic rained out
Rennie Scaysbrook | January 16, 2016
The fourth running of the Troy Bayliss Classic dirt track event in Taree, Australia, was called off late in the day due to heavy rain making the track unrideable.
The Taree venue is an oil-based track, which requires conditions to be dry for any meaningful grip to be generated by the machines racing on wet weather road racing tires. Any moisture and the track becomes too dangerous to race, as was the case this year.
The halt to proceedings was a bitter disappointment for the American contingent of Jared Mees, Sammy Halbert, Jake Johnson, Henry Wiles and Brad Baker who all travelled to the event to compete against a barrage of Australian racing stars, ranging from Moto2 rider Anthony West, former AMA Supermoto Champion Troy Herfoss, the Cudlin brothers and Josh Hook. Baker and defending TBC champion Mees were two of the favorites to take the overall victory, however it would not go Baker’s way, as the 2015 Superprestigio victor hit the ground hard when crashing out of a heat race, damaging his shoulder and taking a knock to the head. He thus decided to pull out of the running altogether, concluding it best to remain healthy for the start of the AMA Pro Flat Track season at Daytona International Speedway on March 12.
A highlights package from the heat races will be posted by Troy Bayliss Events on Livestream and once we have the link, we will post it on this page.
Photo credit: Troy Bayliss Events