By Adrian Musolino
September 21st 2008 @ 2:15am
Bayliss one of Australia’s great sporting exports
Troy Bayliss continues imperiously towards his third World Superbike crown tonight at Vallelunga, Italy. When he claims the crown, it won’t command back page headlines or sports bulletins in Australia.
Sporting success by Aussie athletes competing overseas is taken for granted in this country.
But Bayliss deserves to be considered amongst the great Australian sporting exports.
In his swansong year, the 39 year old is ending his career, on two wheels at least, riding away from his opponents, with a mammoth 101 – point lead in the rider’s standings.
His domination of the season, including his emotional double win at Phillip Island, is testimony to his natural talent.
From Taree in New South Wales, Bayliss had to fight to the top, starting an apprenticeship as a spray painter when it appeared his career had faulted before it had begun.
Stints in Britain and America eventually led him into the World Superbike championship and onto victories and championships.
Bayliss will be best remembered on a red Ducati, with his swash buckling riding style and never say die attitude.
Away from the track he is committed family fan, with wife Kim and his three children Mitch, Abbey and Ollie never far from his side in the paddock.
In Italy he is an icon, loved for his spectacular riding style and loyalty to Ducati. He has also helped the World Superbike series reach new heights.
The World Superbikes series doesn’t have the appeal of the premier motorbike class, MotoGP. Superbikes are production roads bikes slightly modified for the track while MotoGP is strictly prototype, the equivalent of Formula 1 on two wheels.
Bayliss tried his hand at MotoGP with Ducati in the Italian manufacturers return to the category on a bike far from the polished machine that took Casey Stoner to his MotoGP title last season.
Having failed to claim a victory in his MotoGP stint, which included a disappointing year on a Honda, Bayliss returned to the series at the final round of the 2006 season at Valencia for a one off appearance.
Fresh from claiming his second Superbike crown, Bayliss destroyed the MotoGP field, leading every lap to take a famous victory.
It was perhaps his greatest victory.
While his career on two wheels is coming to an end, Bayliss has hinted on a switch to four wheels, possibly in a V8 Supercar, keen to limit his globetrotting ways be settling back in Australia.
“I have racing in my blood — I don’t think I’m finished with racing,” Bayliss said when announcing his retirement from bikes.
It will be a massive boost to V8 Supercars and a chance for the Australian public to give Bayliss the thanks he truly deserves.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
