Bayliss Interview

[elephino]

INTERVIEW WITH 2001 CHAMPION TROY BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA)

Copyright free

With a double victory at Assen, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) became the fifth Ducati
rider to write his name in the World Superbike Championship Roll of Honours, following on
from Raymond Roche (1990), Doug Polen (1991/1992), Carl Fogarty
(1994/1995/1998/1999) and Troy Corser (1996).

As soon as he stepped off the Assen podium, Troy expressed his views and opinions on the
way the season had gone.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPION?

I just can't believe it. I didn't realise I was champion until the slowdown lap when I saw all
the guys of the team with the T-shirt. I'd like to thank the Ducati Infostrada team, all our
sponsors, Michelin as well. You don't do it all on your own and there have been a lot of
people who have helped me all along right throughout my career. Being world champion is
not going to change my life much, I don’t think.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP?

I knew we would be in contention to win the championship. Winning it is just the bonus.

WHEN DID YOU START TO THINK THAT MAYBE YOU COULD WIN THE TITLE?

I expected to be one of the front-runners in the early part of the year but then round
about the third round I thought I had a good chance of winning it.

TWO YEARS AGO YOU WERE RACING IN THE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP. ARE YOU
SURPRISED TO HAVE GOT THIS FAR IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

It all started in the British championship. After I won that, I wanted to go into World
Superbike but the AMA job came up with Ducati and that was another stepping stone to
World Superbikes. Then Carl was injured and Ducati needed a replacement rider. To cut a
long story short, I wanted to get here, it just happened a little bit sooner than expected.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN RUBEN PASSED YOU DURING THE RACE?

I thought this is fun but it did get a little stressful at times. Things were a little bit dodgy
out there, especially in the chicane before the front straight. I did have a moment or two,
but mostly I kept it pretty safe.

WERE THERE ANY TEAM ORDERS?

What do you think?. You don't win a championship without a team. Ruben was not in the
championship hunt so yes, we absolutely had team orders. It would be foolish to think that
that would not happen. That's the way racing is.

DID YOU KNOW DURING THE RACE WHERE YOU WERE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN RELATION
TO EDWARDS?

No, I had no clue. I didn't really know I had won the title until I pulled in after the
warm-down lap and saw my crew running towards me. I actually thought Colin was not too
far behind me during the race.

WERE YOU RUNNING CONSERVATIVELY AT ASSEN?

In both races I didn’t ride above myself because I had a lot of things on my mind and I
wanted to win the championship. I haven’t been overriding myself at all in the last few
races.

OBVIOUSLY YOU CAME TO ASSEN WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO LAST
YEAR…

Last year I had a lot of things to prove … I needed a job basically! I was also new to the
team, and wasn’t used to Michelins. But now I feel confident and comfortable and that
makes a big difference.

DO YOU THINK THE WEATHER HAD AN IMPACT OVERALL ON THE OUTCOME OF THE
CHAMPIONSHIP?

In a way, yes. I believe that had it been wet that Edwards would have put on a good
show in the rain.

AFTER YOU HAD A DNF AT OSCHERSLEBEN DID YOU HAVE ANY WORRIES OR DOUBTS?

No, but I was quite disappointed because it was our first DNF throughout the year. Even
though we went into that weekend with a good points lead, I was disappointed that we
did not get any points in that race.

WHAT WENT WRONG WITH YOUR BIKE IN GERMANY?

We experienced a clutch failure that we had never seen before. I had always been
downshifting without using the clutch but, well, now I do.

DO YOU THINK THAT TYRES HAVE BEEN A CRUCIAL FACTOR THIS YEAR?

Yeah, with the tyres we’ve had a few ups and downs this year. I also had a DNF and a few
problems along the way, like everyone else really. But you just get on with it and work
hard all the year to come up with the goods.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PLATE ON YOUR BIKE FOR NEXT SEASON?

Number one? I really like the number 21 actually!! But, if Ducati wants me to run the #1,
then it will be the #1!.

DO YOU THINK RUBEN IS ONE OF THE MAIN CONTENDERS NEXT YEAR?

Yeah, I think so because he found something at Oschersleben that really suits him. He
feels comfortable on the bike and is riding really well. I think he’s changed since then.

HOW WILL YOU APPROACH THE IMOLA RACE WITH ALL THE PRESSURE OFF?

Everything will be much the same at Imola. It’ll be interesting to see how I do – I might be
rubbish now there’s no pressure! But I’m looking forward to riding without having to think
about the championship. I struggled when we tested there in July, so hopefully we can
change things around a little bit.

WHEN DOES THE 2002 TESTING PROGRAMME START?

Too soon!! I’ve got two weeks off after Imola and then the testing schedule starts again in
October.

NEXT YEAR YOU’RE GOING TO DEFEND THE TITLE. ARE YOU PLANNING A SWITCH TO GPS
IN 2003?

I’ve got a little plan but next year I’m looking forward to coming back and defending the
title so we’ll see how it goes on from there. Maybe I’ll need another challenge but I’ve got
to finish this year first and then next. In all honesty, 2003 is just too far ahead.

WILL YOU BE STAYING IN EUROPE THE REST OF THE YEAR?

I’ve got a lot of things to do between now and December and maybe then I’ll be able to go
back to Australia for a few weeks but I don’t know yet.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT BACK TO SUGO LAST YEAR WHEN YOU ENTERED THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP?

I try to block that one out because it wasn’t a great weekend but that’s just racing for
you.

[Airhead]

Eliphino,

Great interview - thanks for the info.

Good on you Troy!

[Rossifumi]

Hey Elephino

I saw Troy winning both races with my own eyes and great wins it where.
Troy didn't know he had won the championship when he finnished the race,he realized it when he came back in the pits when he saw his crew with the worldchampionship shirts.