Bike legend Bayliss makes racing comeback

London : MotoGP race winner and three-time World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss will return to full-time competition at the age of 48 in the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship.

Bayliss will ride a Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition for the DesmoSport squad he co-owns with Ben Henry.

It will be Bayliss’s first full season of racing in a decade, and his first competitive outing since his two-round cameo in WSBK at the start of the 2015 season.

He said his motivation was to finally win an Australian Superbike crown, having finished runner-up in the series in 1996 and ‘97 before heading to Europe.

Bayliss admitted he had come close to joining the series midway through this year to replace injured rider Callum Spriggs.

“Initially, I did want to see another young guy on the bike but after I rode it, I felt that I needed to contest the championship and try and win myself the elusive Australian Superbike title,” said Bayliss.

“I definitely feel like I have some unfinished business.

“I have a bit of work to do in terms of fitness but after testing the bike and running it at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival I feel I am definitely up to the task.” 

Ducati Australia and New Zealand CEO Warren Lee said getting Bayliss back on a bike was a big coup for the series.