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/917325
IN THE WIND P70 TROY BAYLISS RETURNS TO RACING FULL TIME T hree-time WorldSBK Cham- pion Troy Bayliss confirmed he will come out of retirement to race the 2018 Australian Super- bike Championship on a Des- moSport Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition for the factory- supported team he co-owns with former Australian Superbike racer Ben Henry. The 48-year-old confirmed his desire to contest Australia's pre- mier motorcycle racing series had been burning for a while, initially presenting when an op- portunity arose to replace the injured Callum Spriggs midyear. "It was a situation we first considered when Callum was injured," Bayliss said. "Obvi- ously, it was a big call and it didn't quite feel right at the time. Since then, I have tested the bike and completed a lot of miles both in practice and rac- ing the 300 class. "Initially, I did want to see another young guy on the bike but after I rode it, I felt that I needed to contest the championship and try and win myself the elusive Australian Superbike title." During his time in Australia before going overseas, Bayliss placed second in the Australian Superbike Championship on two occasions, and if he were to achieve his goal of champion- ship success, he not only would he be crowned Australian Super- bike Champion, he would also become the oldest competitor to win a domestic superbike series anywhere in the world. CN ELENA MYERS TO TEACH YAMAHA CHAMPIONS RIDING SCHOOL F ormer AMA Supersport gun Elena My- ers will appear as a guest instructor at the Yamaha Champions Riding School at Arizona Motorsports Park, January 6-7. Myers, who retired from AMA Superbike competition following a single season on a self-prepared Suzuki GSX-R1000 and who has two AMA Supersport victories to her name at Infineon in 2010 and most famously at Daytona in 2012, will help instruct students alongside YCRS Chief Instructor, Nick Ienatsch. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the folks at YCRS during the upcoming school at AMP. I learned a lot from these guys in my racing days, and feel the program is incredible for riders of all levels," said Myers. CN Elena Myers, seen here at Daytona, will be passing on some golden nuggets of advice to eager students at the YCRS. Don't call it a comeback! Bayliss will be back in the saddle to try and claim that elusive Australian Superbike Championship in 2018.