Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128346
Bayliss Out at Ducati MotoGP Australian Troy Bayliss is definitely out of Ducati and is looking for a ride in MotoGp, or failingthat , in World Superbikes. The former World Superbike Champion was given the news on the weekend of the Malaysian Grand Prix, October 9-10 , and felt he was being made the scapegoat for the team's failure to follow on last year's strong MotoGP debut with this year's machine. "I got told a few days ago, and really we all knew it was coming," he said. "Basically, it's been a bit of a struggle th is year, and we haven't had the tools to get the results we had last year." Bayliss was on the rostrum three times last year - and teammate Loris Capirossi won a race. "In the end somebody has got to pay for it, and it's me ," Baylisssaid. "I'm pretty disappointed, but I've had a -good time with Ducati. I've ridden for them since 199B,and I've done good for them and they 've done good for me. I wanted to stay because I believe in them and think they will come up w ith something soon that w ill w in races. But we haven't been on the podium this year, and I've had too many crashes. But the bike isn't winning races . It would be a different story if it was, and I was miles off," Baylisssaid he would definitely continue racing, but had no clear idea of where he would find a home. "I want to ride in MotoGp, but if I have to , I'll go to World Superbike,' he said. Mic hael Scott Mees - Flat Track Rookie of t he Year Thompson Hearing Begins 10 oaOBER 20, 2004 • CYCLE NEWS Jared Mees , IB, of Honey Broo k, Pennsylvania, has been named as the 2004 Ricky Graha m Flat Track Rookie of the Year. Mees turn ed in a solid first full sea so n in the AMA Progressi ve Insurance Flat Track Ch am pionship , e nding the season ranked ninth in the final standings. The Ricky Grah am Flat Track Rookie of the Year Award is the latest in a string of major accompli shments for Mees . In 200 I, he won the AMA Horizon Award , signifying Mees as the nation 's leading amateur rider. A year later, a 16-year-o ld Mees wo n the Har leyDavidson Sportster Performance Series , becoming the youngest rider ever to win that title. Now, at IB, he adds the Rookie of the Year Award to his trophy case . Mees rode a limited Grand National schedule in 2003 , but this season was his first fullyear in the championship. When he started the 2004 season, he was still a senior in high school - he graduated in May. Mees rode bikes backed by primary sponsors lancaster Harley-Davidson and Saddlemen. He scored two topflve finishes (fourt hs at the Cow Palace and Farley Speedway) and was the fast qualifier at Sedalia "I had some valuable experience by racing in some rounds last yea r that helped me by knowing what to expect in my first full season in the Grand Nationals ," Mees said in an AHA Pro Racing press release. "We 40th Anniversary had a really good team w ith Johnny Goad, lancast er Harley-Davidson and Saddlemen. This year we really stepped it up with so me great people to help us out , and we really went forward." By finishing the season ranked in the top 10, Mee s accomplished something fairly rare for a rookie. ''A top- 10 ran king was our goal, and we got ninth , so I'm really proud of that," Mees said. ''I'm even more proud for our team that I won the Rookie of the Year Award." Mees fo llows in the footsteps of other riders who have won the AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year hon ors , such as Jay Springsteen, Scott Parker, Bubba Shobert, Doug Chandler, Ben Bostrom and Nicky Hayden, just to name a few. Mees says his ultimate goal is to w in the AMA Grand National Championship, but for next year he's hoping to finish the season ranked in the top five. The award is given to the rider who has earned the most points in his or her first full year of competition as a Grand Nat ional Championship license holder. Mees will be presented his award at the 30th annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet to be held at the Paris Hotel & Cas ino in las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, November 14.