Ducati Issues Bayliss Comments On Winning World Championship

Ducati Issues Bayliss Comments On Winning World Championship

© 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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This press release just in from Ducati:

2001 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

INTERVIEW WITH 2001 CHAMPION TROY BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA)

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.

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