INTERVIEW
TROY BAYLISS
P98
more, although I love riding the
bike" he said. "I wanted to come
here and get my arse kicked to
prove I was too old to ride, but I
don't think I got my arse kicked
in the end. I think I can still ride
as fast as those guys. All I know
is that if I did not have the [tire]
blister I would not have had the
same result."
The fact that Bayliss ignited
the World Superbike world also
highlighted the fact that the
championship is still at a relative-
ly low ebb. And that the world at
large now thinks that the current
breed of World Superbike rid-
ers are not a patch on Noriyuki
Haga, Frankie Chili, Carl Fog-
arty, Troy Corser, Colin Edwards
or Bayliss as personalities. As
icons, even.
For Bayliss, he had a different
view of his old workplace.
"I think it has just been tough
times over the past few years,
if you look at the business and
everything else," he stated.
"From what I have seen there
are still great riders. It just takes
time for people to spend a bit of
time with them, a few years with
them, and I think it turns out to
be the same.
"The level is very good I am
sure. Chaz [Davies] is riding very
fast, [Tom] Sykes, [Jonathan]
Rea—I raced them a couple of
times and that was when they
first started. They gave me a
hard time. I am sure they have
not gotten any slower. I am sure
the level is good. We are not
missing characters. It is just
taking some time. Sykes and
Guintoli are making names for
themselves now. It is just time."
The other question for Bayliss
was, if he was riding for real again,
was he actually getting paid?
"Paid? Can't tell you too
much!" Joked Troy. "Like I
said, there is always business
involved. I don't have to pay for
my ride! Racing is racing, but
this here is a whole big thing for
a reason. Business and other
reasons as well." CN
The three-time
World Champion
put in a good
effort, mixing it
up with the series
regulars before
tire woes came
into play.
