Breaking news: Bayliss to make World Superbike return!

Three-time World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss will dramatically return to the opening round of the series this weekend in Phillip Island, after Aruba.it Ducati rider Davide Guigliano was ruled out by injuries sustained in a testing crash.

Bayliss last raced in the series in 2008, retiring as champion for the factory Ducati team after becoming the second most successful rider in history, second only to Carl Fogarty. However, the 45 year old has never left competitive racing, announcing his intentions earlier this week to head to America for flat tracking’s Grand Mile races.

Speaking after the shock announcement, the Taree native said: “I want to start by saying that I really feel for Davide and that it’s a real shame for his season to be starting in this way. The desire to be able to return to the track and see the home crowd and the Ducatisti has always been strong, ever since I last raced and then also Phillip Island, one of my favourite tracks, is celebrating its 25th anniversary of World Superbikes. This gave me the idea to compete as a wildcard and work with the Ducati Superbike technicians once again.”

“I know it’s going to be a very difficult weekend, also because it’s a while since I’ve ridden the Superbike but I do know the track well and so hope to get back into it after a few laps. I’ll try to enjoy myself and will of course be doing my best to score a good result and put on a good show for the public.”

The injured Guigliano, who is set to sit out ninety days of racing after micro fractures to L1 and l2 vertebrae, added: “My aim now is to do all I can to recover as quickly as possible. I will return to Italy as soon as possible to start my rehabilitation. I’m proud to know that it will be Troy to substitute for me this weekend. He’s a great champion and I’ve always admired him. I hope he gets on well with the set-up that my team and I have worked on in recent months.”

For a look at how Bayliss has remained racing since his WSBK retirement, see today Wednesday 18^th February’s Motorcycle News.