Press release:
Three of the biggest names in the history of Australian motorcycle racing will ride again when the ‘Legends of MotoGP’ display takes to the track at the 2009 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

For the first time since the inception of the ‘Legends of MotoGP’ display, Aussie hero Troy Bayliss will join Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan on the grid at Phillip Island.

The trio will ride demonstration laps of the 4.4km circuit in front of a bumper crowd on Saturday, 17 October and Sunday, 18 October 2009.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Drew Ward, said the inclusion of Bayliss completes the perfect line-up of Aussie superstars.

“It was Gardner, Doohan and more recently Bayliss’ success that has helped to cement Australia’s reputation as one of the world’s greatest motorcycling nations,” he said.

“We are thrilled to announce them as a part of the on-track line-up at the 2009 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.”

Between them, the Aussie legends have nine world championships. Gardner took the 500cc title in 1987, while Doohan won five back-to-back 500cc titles from 1994 – 1998. Bayliss collected three world Superbike championships in 2001, 2006 and 2008.

The 2009 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will also host the Australian Historic class and round six of the Australian Superbike Championship showcasing the best of local talent in both the Superbike and Supersport classes.

This is another one for your Racing DVD collection – “Troy’s Story – The Incredible Rise of Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss” (DVD). ‘Troy’s Story is narrated by Ewan McGregor and is an in-depth documentary charting the life story and racing career of Troy Bayliss. This is really well produced documentary – it’s not simply a ton of action clips all edited together; this film tracks Troy’s life story from humble spray painter to racing legend with access to the Bayliss family as well as his friends and peers.
*Winner of Best Documentary at the New York Film Festival*.

Official Description:
The hard-charging style of legendary motorcycle racer Troy Bayliss has won him not only the World Superbike crown, but a reputation as one of the most exciting riders in the world. TROY’S STORY tells his unlikely and inspirational tale, following Troy from his years as a motorbike prodigy to the top ranks of his sport.

Troy has often said that he would rather put the bike into the wall than finish second, and early in his career, the only way he could afford to continue racing was to continue winning. Narrated by Ewan McGregor, these six episodes feature rare home videos, footage from some of the greatest races in recent memory, and interviews with Troy, his family, and many of the tour’s top riders. Named Best Documentary at the New York Film Festival, TROY’S STORY paints an intimate portrait of one of the world’s great athletes and tells how one man gambled everything on the sport he loved, and walked away a winner.

Over 70 Minutes of Bonuses including: Interview with Troy Bayliss, Deleted Scenes, Additional Pit and Race Footage and Troy Bayliss Biography!

You can buy Troy’s Story – The Incredible Rise of Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss from Amazon.co.uk or from Amazon.com. More detail below:

UK:

US:

You can buy ‘Troy’s Story – The Incredible Rise of Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss ‘

Just released in paperback is Troy Bayliss: My Life My Career. This new book chronicles the life of Troy Bayliss, Ducati World Superbike Champion through his memories and his experiences (on and off the track), his relationship with his team and with the bikes and the thrilling emotions experienced together. It’s 144 pages and full of interviews and exclusive photographs.

You can buy it from Amazon.co.uk or from Amazon.com. More details below:

UK:

US:

Arguably one of the best motorcycle races of recent years, Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards brought the WSBK championship battle to the last race of the year in 2002.

Always worth revisiting this clip:

Edwards v Bayliss WSBK 2002 (Imola):

WSBK Champion Troy Bayliss has proposed a price tag of £1million to race Valentino Rossi on World Superbike spec machines – Yamaha has a decent bike in the World Superbike Championship series that could potentially go head to head with the Xerox Ducati that Bayliss won the 2008 championship on.

World Superbikes has been touted as a more exciting alternative to MotoGP in its current state, with senior MotoGP riders like Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi both recently stating that the racing, and larger number of riders in the WSBK series made for more exciting spectacle.

“I spoke with Valentino and he told me that he wants to race me really badly,” Bayliss told motorcyclenews.com. “It wouldn’t be so hard for him to be competitive on a superbike. Yamaha have got a strong bike so it would be no problem at all for him to get up to speed. Valentino Rossi is Valentino Rossi.

“For me right now, I’ve stopped training and I’m happy with my plan to finish. I’m feeling happy that the last time I rode I was world champion plus I won both races and beat all the other guys out there. For me to do it I’d need something like £1 million and that’s not going to happen.”

One potential way for this to happen would be for Rossi and Bayliss to both enter as wildcard riders……..but I just can’t see this taking place. You’ll more likely see Dani Pedrosa sharing a garage with Jorge Lorenzo.