Troy Bayliss is currently competing in his final season of Superbike racing. He will leave fans of the sport with many great memories.
When Troy Bayliss retires from motorcycle racing at the end of the 2008 season it will bring to an end a truly remarkable career. From riding his first monkey bike at the age of six the tenacious Australian rose through the ranks to become the best in the world.
Born in Taree, New South Wales, on 30th March 1969 Troy’s early racing ambitions were encouraged by his father who drove his son to various off-road motorcycle meetings. Throughout his teenage years he preferred to concentrate on cycling but, in 1992, returned to racing bikes with engines. His first races that year were on a road going bike but he soon exchanged it for a 250cc Kawasaki KR1 with which he competed in Sports Production racing.
The following year brought a move to a 600cc bike and marriage to Kim, who he had been dating since the age of 18. By 1994 Troy felt the need to graduate to the Australian National 600 Championship and he made an immediate impression, finishing sixth in the final standings. He also recorded an impressive win at Bathurst. Staying in the same series for 1995 he improved to finish second in the championship and a move to superbikes beckoned.
The increase in power did nothing to halt Troy’s progress as he proceeded to finish third in his debut season of Australian Superbikes. He went one better in 1997 to finish second, but that was not the highlight of the year. Offered a wildcard ride at the Phillip Island World Superbike round he took full advantage of the opportunity to finish fifth in both races. He also rode as a wildcard in the 250cc Grand Prix event at the same circuit, finishing an incredibly sixth. Darrell Healey was suitably impressed by Troy’s performances to offer him a ride with his GSE Ducati team in the 1998 British Superbike Championship.
It didn’t take long for Troy to endear himself to the British crowds with his hard charging style. Despite numerous accidents he eventually finished fifth in the title race, but the following year he rode majestically to claim the championship with six wins.
By the beginning of the 2000 season Troy was in America, competing in the AMA Superbike Championship. He claimed pole position for his first race at Daytona but retired in the race. He did not stay in America for long, however, as an irresistible opportunity arose. Carl Fogarty had been seriously injured in a crash and the Infostrada Ducati team needed someone to replace him in the World Superbike Championship. It was an offer which Troy could not refuse. Showing no sign of nerves he soon scored his maiden win in the series, at Hockenheim, and ended up sixth in the championship despite not doing the whole season.
Troy was much better prepared for the 2001 World Superbike Championship and repaid the team’s faith in him by claiming the title, scoring six wins along the way and recording Ducati’s 100th pole position. Despite starting the 2002 championship with six consecutive wins Troy was eventually pipped to the title by his great friend and rival Colin Edwards.
2003 brought another change of scenery as Troy moved into the MotoGP championship with Ducati. The first season was promising but the 2004 season was highly disappointing. Troy moved to the Camel Honda for 2005 but things got even worse when he broke his wrist while on a motocross bike and was forced to miss several races.
A return to superbikes with Ducati in 2006 brought a return to the top step of the podium, Troy becoming World Superbike Champion for the second time. He was given a wildcard ride at Valencia MotoGP round and duly won the race for Ducati.
His 2007 superbike season was hampered by a serious crash at Donington. Nevertheless he finished fourth overall in the championship. In 2008 he is currently leading the World Superbike Championship and is the favourite for the title. It would be a fitting end to an extraordinary journey.
