Ducati News Today

In what to us reeks a little of an orchestrated setup, the rhetoric concerning the possible return of 3 time World Superbike Champion, Troy Bayliss, to Ducati and competition has taken a 180º turn. In a press conference held at Misano as part of World Ducati Week, Bayliss put the kibosh on any chance of a return to active competition.

Rumors of Bayliss being dissatisfied with his retirement surfaced as early as last year but went up several gears when he began to openly speak about his desire to return in 2011, even telling fans he would have a wild card ride this year at Imola.

The interwebs went into a frenzy once Bayliss showed he had lost nothing of his spectacular pace when he set a time of 1:51.9 at Mugello during testing on the Ducati 1198R Superbike. Although the World Superbike circus doesn’t race at Mugello (MotoGP does) this compares favorably with a testing time Noriyuki Haga set at the same circuit last year of 1:52.3.

At the press conference however Bayliss made it clear he will not be getting back on two wheels.

“I’m retired and happy” said Bayliss to the shocked press assembled at Misano as part of World Ducati Week. Bayliss claimed his turnaround was a result of difficulties getting the Ducati 1198R to work at Misano, his frustration reminding him that racing wasn’t all victories, lap records and championships.

“That’s when it hit me, and it was hard things like that that I didn’t miss about racing,” he said.

link: MotoMatters.com

Oh well, that’s that then. Ducati News Today is happy for Troy. He went out on top and free of injury, the best way to go. Now we can get back to Rossi to Ducati speculation!!

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