Bayliss to Rossi: “Doubt it Mate”
After riding a Ducati 1198R Superbike as part of his pre-season testing workup on his shoulder, factory Ducati MotoGP star, Valentino Rossi, opined that he might ultimately follow fellow Italian Max Biaggi to the World Superbike Championship once his MotoGP career is over. 3 time champion and Ducati hero, Troy Bayliss, doubts it.
It wasn’t just Rossi’s comment to Reuters saying he might make the switch to that other 4-stroke series in the future that got tongues wagging. His childhood friend and constant companion (and Moto2 team manager) Uccio confirmed
“Inside Vale’s head is that at the end of his career he wants to race for two years in Superbikes. Even the idea of moving to Formula 1 with Ferrari was, but this is even more tangible, because riding motorcycles is what Valentino does best.“
link: Life After MotoGP Equals Superbikes for Rossi?
Troy Bayliss however has his doubts, pouring cold water on the idea when he spoke to MotoBlog at an Italian show recently.
“I’ve heard that in two years Valentino could finish his career in Superbikes, In the 2013 he’ll be the same age as I was when I started racing in WSBK, and he’s got the credentials, but I don’t think he’ll end up in the series.”
Bayliss didn’t expand on his rationale for his view but he did have some things to say about the much hyper duel on Superbike between himself and Rossi that many fans called for:-
“The duel? Vale is a phenomenon, but I won that duel in the Valencia in 2006, when I returned to MotoGP and won with the Ducati and he unfortunately crashed.” said the last ever rider to take victory on a 990cc machine.
link: Visordown
Ouch! Bayliss continues to be close to the Ducati factory and is helping to develop the new 2012 Ducati Superbike.
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