When Troy Bayliss left racing last year as the reigning World Superbike champion and clearly one of the most talented riders on the planet, doubts circulated about whether the Australian would remain retired. Now Bayliss is back in the saddle as a test rider aboard the
Ducati Desmosedici GP9.
The last time Troy Bayliss was riding for the Ducati MotoGP effort was memorable to say the least - the Australian celebrated his 2006 World Superbike title by winning the MotoGP season finale at Valencia in a dominating flag-to-flag victory as a wild-card entry.
The 2008 SBK champ will ride the Ducati MotoGP mount at the Mugello circuit May 12-14, joining Italian marque’s long-time test rider Vittoriano Guareschi. And it appears that Bayliss’ services will be put to use beyond the initial test, with Ducati PR announcing:
“The test [Mugello] has been planned for a while and will be repeated during the year at future official sessions of the Test Team.
Ducati can thus count on the feedback of a three times world champion, whose talent and experience will contribute to the continuous development work carried out on the Desmosedici GP9 and GP10.”
Until the May 12th, Ducatisti will have to be satisfied with Bayliss’ attendance at the upcoming World Superbike round at Monza - but as a spectator, not a participant.
As for the MotoGP gig, will there be more than just testing in the future for Bayliss? The last time Bayliss turned laps on the Desmosedici he embarrassed the Grand Prix paddock by dominating the 2006 MotoGP finale with a flag-to-flag win as a wild-card entry. Oddly enough, Bayliss was subbing for the injured Sete Gibernau... Racing fans won’t forget the apparent retirement of Gibernau after the 2006 season, with the Spaniard eventually returning to Grand Prix in 2009 aboard a satellite Ducati – but not before brief stints in 2008 as a Desmosedici test pilot.
