Troy Bayliss rules out racing return

Triple World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss has ruled out making a shock return to racing after a successful three-day test session on Ducati’s MotoGP bike in Mugello this week.

The Aussie tested the GP9 machine and some development parts for next year’s GP10 and clocked a best time of 1.51.2 on the final day as he helped regular test rider Vittoriano Guareschi.

That time was 1.2s outside of compatriot Casey Stoner’s lap record set during last year’s Italian GP race, though Bayliss reckons he’s no intention of stepping out of retirement after his test ride.

“I’ve had three good days during which I’ve felt like a rider again. It didn’t take long to get back into it but, before anyone gets any ideas, I will also say that I’m happy to be heading back to the airport and towards Australia and home this evening: I have no intention of returning to racing!

“Having said that, I have had fun and I hope at the same time that I’ve been of use to Filippo (Preziosi).

“We worked each day on the bike and each day I was able to push harder, until I started to record some respectable times,“ said Bayliss, who won on his last MotoGP appearance in the last 990cc race in Valencia in 2006.

Bayliss though confirmed he is likely to test the MotoGP bike again in the near future and he added: “Now I’ll stay home for a while but later in June or July I’ll be back in Europe for a few weeks.

“I will probably test the bike again during that time, I don’t know exactly when, but I am very happy to play a part in this project.”

Ducati’s Technical Director Filippo Preziosi said having input from Bayliss had been useful as the Bologna factory desperately tries to create a bike that suits different riding styles.

Only Stoner has really gelled with Ducati’s 800cc machine and Preziosi added: “Working with Troy has been useful because he has a very different riding style to Vittoriano.

“It’s been interesting and beneficial to hear his impressions of the GP9 also. We worked on chassis set-ups that are pretty different from those, which we usually use and the results were promising although we need to look at this further.”