Bayliss wins 2008 World Superbike Championship
Troy Bayliss has won his 3rd World Superbike Championship for Ducati.
Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) has won his third World Superbike title, by taking a third place finish in Race 1 and a fantastic race 2 win at the "Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, with one more round still to race at Portimao (Portugal).
With a total of 410 championship points, and having achieved nine race wins and sixteen podium finishes during the season, the Australian legend Bayliss has ridden the Ducati 1098 F08 factory machine into the record books, a winning bike in its debut season, a feat previously accomplished by Carl Fogarty with the 916 in 1994, and with the 996 in 1998 and by Neil Hodgson in 2003 with the 999.
Todays’ results also mean that Ducati has secured the manufacturer’s title, for the fifteenth time since the championship began in 1988. This means that in the last eighteen years, the Borgo-Panigale based firm has dominated the World Superbike series, to take the constructor’s title home on all but three occasions. Troy started from third position on the grid and knew that to finish Race 1 with an advantage of at least 75 points over Corser, Haga and Neukirchner would be enough to take the title. He therefore rode an intelligent race, leaving Haga to lead while he concentrated on doing just enough to secure the necessary result. He remained in second place for the first nineteen laps before relinquishing that position to Nieto and eventually settling for third place on the podium. Meanwhile team-mate Michel Fabrizio rode a great race, moving up from ninth to third place, only to unfortunately crash out, unhurt, on the nineteenth lap.
In Race 2 Troy was able to ride with less pressure and thus raced for the win. Caught up in a great battle with an old adversary, Haga, Troy proved himself to be the most determined, crossing the line ahead of the Yamaha rider. 39-year old Troy first celebrated a world title with Ducati in 2001, a season in which he dominated the racing on board the 996R, to finish with a 36-point advantage over second-placed rider Colin Edwards.
In 2006, racing for the Ducati Xerox Team on board the Ducati 999, Troy’s twelve race wins and total of sixteen podium finishes secured him his second world title, a testimony to the incredible competitiveness of the Australian who won the championship by a clear margin of 95 points, ahead of James Toseland.
Bayliss will retire from Superbike racing at the end of the 2008 season, having accumulated over the years an awe-inspiring collection of 50 race wins, 92 podium finishes and 25 pole positions.
Troy Bayliss (2008 World Superbike Champion – Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1098 F08)
"I’m extremely happy to have won my third world championship and to be able to say I have won on three different generations of the Ducati Superbike. I want to thank the entire team who have worked so hard and put a lot of trust in me. Together we have done a great job this season. These last years with Ducati, since 2000, have been a great experience for me. This whole year has been up and done, with several riders remaining consistently fast. From half way through the season we became more confident and so there was a lot of pressure but I’ve done what I set out to do, I really wanted to win on the three different Ducati Superbikes. It’s just a fantastic feeling. Now I have secured the title, I’m looking forward to enjoying the last round at the brand new track of Portimao, where I’m hoping I can finish the season on a high!"
Gabriele Del Torchio (CEO – Ducati Motor Holding)
"I am particularly happy and proud of this victory. Exactly one year ago the MotoGP win added a very important chapter to our history but this win demonstrates, for the fifteenth time, Ducati’s supremacy in competitions for production bikes such as SBK. A triumph that confirms the success of the product that is the 1098, a winner in it’s debut year, and a point of reference not just on track but also from the commercial and design points of view.
Troy is an icon of our brand, a true Ducatista, who demonstrates characteristics such as determination, intelligence, pride and competitiveness, bringing added value to our company and to our bikes. A rider that "never gives up", he is the public’s favourite, it is impossible not to like him. He truly deserved to conclude his career triumphantly, with yet another win to add to the list, consolidating his position among the greats of motorcycling. Ducati owes a lot to Troy and he has always known how to repay the company, writing unforgettable pages of motorcycling history for us. Thanks again Troy, and a particular thanks also to the team, to Ducati Corse and all the Ducati employees who has each played their role to perfection to secure this fantastic result."
Filippo Preziosi (General Director – Ducati Corse)
"Today Troy has given Ducati Corse an unforgettable gift, having now won the World Superbike Championship on three different bikes – the 998, 999 and 1098. On behalf of everybody in Ducati Corse I send a warm embrace to a rider that will remain forever in our hearts. My compliments also go to Davide (Tardozzi), to Ernesto (Marinelli) and to the whole team for the great job they’ve done."
10 QUESTIONS WITH TROY BAYLISS, WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPION 2008
1. A THIRD WORLD TITLE, AND IN YOUR FINAL YEAR OF SUPERBIKE RACING, A DREAM RESULT?
Yes, a dream result for sure. For several reasons…. for the fact that it’s my third title, in what is my last year of Superbike racing; for the fact that I’ve now won on three different generations of Ducati Superbike; and for the fact that I win for the third time as part of such a fantastic Italian team. We came so close to tying it up at the last round at Vallelunga but it wasn’t to be, it’s been a rollercoaster ride emotionally speaking and so I’m extremely happy and relieved to have done it this weekend!
2. AND THE 1098 WINS IN IT’S VERY FIRST YEAR? HOW WAS IT AND HOW DID IT COMPARE TO YOUR PREVIOUS RACE BIKES?
The 1098 has been a fantastic bike, we’ve had to work a little on the settings throughout the year, but I can say that the bike and I have got on great together. Sitting on the bike, it’s not at all like the 999, but much closer to the older style Ducati bikes, more similar to the 996 or the 998.
3. WAS IT AS EASY AS IT LOOKED TO WIN THIS YEAR?
It may have looked easy but I’ve been up and down in the points, going up to 78 points and then back down to 28, then up to over a hundred, and back down after Vallelunga. So no, it wasn’t easy, it’s been a lot of hard work and although I’ve had some great races, I also had some little dramas. It just comes down to the fact that other riders have had more dramas than me I guess!
4. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE RACE MOMENT THIS SEASON?
High points? Well the double win in Phillip Island , then the double win in Brno was very special too as I hadn’t won there before, and of course to wrap up the championship here in Italy is a real highlight!
5. … AND THE LOWEST POINT?
The low point was Salt Lake City. It was a long way to go to not get the results! I was also frustrated and annoyed with myself for what happened at Vallelunga, I came so close!
6. DID YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS THAT YOU WOULD WIN? WAS ANYONE A REAL THREAT?
At the start of the year I was concerned about Max Biaggi, and also Neukirchner, Nori and Carlos but then as the year’s gone on, I’ve just got on with the racing and things have gone our way!
7. BEST MEMORIES OF RACING WITH DUCATI?
There are so many great memories that I could never single out just one. I’ve been with Ducati for 10 years and it’s been a career full of memorable moments. Winning each of the world titles that I’ve taken with the team were of course special times. Then the GP race in Valencia in 2006; the first time I won a British Superbike race; taking a British title in 1999; the first time I won a World Superbike race in 2000 in Hockenheim… The list is pretty endless really!
8. HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE?
I don’t know really, as it’s a very strange feeling to win, knowing that you’ll be finished with the Superbike racing very soon. I have very mixed-up emotions right now.
9. A MESSAGE FOR YOUR FANS?
To the fans, who only see the racer Troy, and maybe don’t know me personally, I take this opportunity to say a huge thank-you for all their support over the years. Most of the support has come my way thanks to Ducati, from Ducatisti who love the bikes and the heritage, and who have become my fans as a result. I thank you all for the memories.
10. WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE LEGEND THAT IS TROY BAYLISS?
Well the only certainty for now is that I’ll be moving back to Australia in the next few months, taking the family back home. Having spent the last 10 years here in Europe and in Monaco, Kim and I have decided that the time is right to take the children home. Apart from that, there are no concrete plans for the moment. I will stay involved with Ducati in some way, after our long history it would be impossible to cut myself off from racing completely. So I’m sure I’ll be showing up at some Ducati events and keeping in touch with everyone. I’m sure I won’t disappear altogether!
RESULTS:
Race 1 – 1. Haga (Yamaha);
2. Nieto (Suzuki);
3. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox);
Race 2 –
1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox);
2. Haga (Yamaha);
3. Corser (Yamaha)
CLASSIFICATION: Riders –
1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 410;
2. Haga (Yamaha) 325;
3. Corser (Yamaha) 316;
4. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298;
5. Checa (Honda) 284;
Constructors –
Ducati 520;
Yamaha 461;
Suzuki 384;
Honda 379;
Kawasaki 82
ABOUT TROY BAYLISS
Troy Bayliss is quite simply a legend for Ducati and the world of motorcycle racing. The 39-year old rider from Taree, Australia has this year taken his third World Superbike title, riding the Ducati 1098 F08, having first won the title in 2001 and then again in 2006, when he returned to the category after three years in MotoGP. In 2006 Bayliss was called in for a one-off ride in the last MotoGP race of the year at Valencia as replacement for Sete Gibernau, a race he dominated to take that long sought-after maiden GP win.
Bayliss was a very late starter to racing at the age of 23, the Aussie campaigning a Kawasaki back home in the first half of the 1990s. Two wild-card entries in the Australian rounds of 250GP and WSBK in 1997 earned him a ride in the British Superbike championship for the next two years and he completed the job in 1999 by taking the BSB crown.
His entry into the factory Ducati World Superbike team in 2000 came about following Carl Fogarty’s career-ending crash in 2000. Sixth overall in his first season was followed by the Australian’s domination in 2001 when he took the title for the first time, riding the Ducati 996R, finishing the season with a 36-point advantage over second-placed rider Colin Edwards.
After then losing out to Edwards in 2002, in the legendary Imola finale, and despite fourteen race wins that season, Bayliss spent the next two years in GP racing with Ducati and one more with Honda before coming back to where he feels at home, World Superbike.
In 2006, racing for the Ducati Xerox Team on board the Ducati 999, twelve race wins and a total of 16 podium finishes secured him his second world title, a testimony to the incredible competitiveness of the Australian who won the championship by a clear margin of 95 points ahead of James Toseland. A fourth place finish after seven race wins followed in the 2007 championship before this year’s spectacular performance, a season which included nine race wins and sixteen podiums for Troy and his 1098 F08.
Troy will retire from Superbike racing at the end of the 2008 season, having accumulated over the years an awe-inspiring collection of 50 race wins, 92 podium finishes and 25 pole positions.
Nationality: Australian
Age: 39
Date of birth: March 30, 1969
Place of birth: Taree, NSW (Australia)
Residence: Monaco
Height: 174 cm Weight: 68 kg
Marital status: married to Kim, 3 children (Mitch, Abbey, Ollie)
Hobbies: cycling, training
Race number: 21
CAREER
2008: World Superbike Champion (Ducati Xerox)
2007: World Superbike Championship, 4th (Ducati Xerox)
2006: World Superbike Champion (Ducati Xerox)
2005: MotoGP World Championship, 15th (Camel Honda Pons)
2004: MotoGP World Championship, 14th (Ducati Marlboro)
2003: MotoGP World Championship, 6th (Ducati Marlboro)
2002: World Superbike Championship, 2nd (Ducati Infostrada)
2001: World Superbike Champion (Ducati Infostrada)
2000: World Superbike Championship, 6th (Ducati Infostrada)
1999: British Superbike Champion (GSE Racing Ducati)
1998: British Superbike Championship, 6th (GSE Racing Ducati)
1997: Australian Superbike Championship, 2nd (Suzuki)
1996: Australian Superbike Championship, 3rd (Kawasaki)
1995: Australian 600 Championship, 2nd (Kawasaki)
1994: Australian 600 Championship, 6th (Kawasaki)
1992: First road-racing events
1975: First motocross and dirt track events
