Australia’s Troy Bayliss will definitely take his place on the grid in the opening world Superbike round in Qatar on February 23.
The dual world champion, who will campaign Ducati’s all-new 1098cc twin in his final year of international competition, has been recuperating at home in Monaco following a crash at Phillip Island early last month, which saw him “splinter” the collarbone near the sternum.
“After I broke the collarbone in 2001, it healed really strong and the bone got pushed across and punched the sternum causing the splinter,” said Bayliss. The doctors told me there was enough to time to heal naturally without plating it, and they advised me to stay off a motorbike for 21 days.” said Bayliss.
“The first week I couldn’t do anything and was in quite a bit of pain. I spent most of it in bed – I’ve never been in bed so much in my life! I don’t like healing as it feels like a waste of time, but I’m trying to get back as fast as possible so am doing what’s necessary.
“I’m now getting into some easy gym work and I’m moving around okay, which isn’t too bad after three weeks.
“I’ve also been going every weekday to the Monaco Sports Institute, having ultrasounds and also gentle massage with my normal trainer, just trying to help things along.”
Bayliss will now attend a two-day session at Qatar prior to the opening round, where he hopes to get some “feeling” back with the 1098 and build his fitness before the season kicks off in earnest.
“Taking a guess, I reckon I’ll be 80 percent fit for the opening round in Qatar,” said Bayliss. “I think I’ll be able to ride okay, as I still have time to do a bit more training to get a bit stronger.
“The next two weeks of healing will really help. I’m only worried about having another fall in the meantime and landing on it, so I didn’t go skiing with my family last weekend and I hope I won’t be injured being tackled by one of my kids either!”
Although he could have done without the involuntarily break in his pre-season schedule, the 41-time world Superbike winner believes it may actually be of benefit in the long term.
“This collarbone has certainly set me back a little bit, but I’m now fresh and eager to go, so that’s a bonus. Sometimes you can train and concentrate too much on one thing and lose the hunger a bit, but right now I’m hungry and ready to go.”
Prior to his highside at Phillip Island, where Frenchman Régis Laconi (Kawasaki) was also caught up in the collateral damage, Bayliss was in ominous form, setting the fastest time over the first two-and-a-half days before Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama jumped to the top late on the final day.
“We made good progress at Phillip Island and made another step forward from where we were in Qatar,” said Bayliss, who holds the fastest ever lap around Phillip Island (1:30.7). “The 1098 accelerates better as we have more torque, which was missing on the 999. It also feels easier to ride on faster corners, changing direction more easily.
“For some reason I’ve always felt comfortable on the Ducati Superbike. They all feel very similar and behave in a similar way so that is a huge bonus for me.”
The 2008 world Superbike protagonists head to Phillip Island from February 29-March 2, with the blue-chip line-up also including Australia’s second hometown hero Troy Corser (Yamaha); Roman master Max Biaggi (Ducati); world No. 2 Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha); former MotoGP riders Carlos Checa (Honda) and Makoto Tamada (Kawasaki); British Superbike champions Gregorio Lavilla (Honda) and Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda); and 2007 world Supersport champion Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda).
Australia will also be represented by Honda duo Russell Holland and Karl Muggeridge in the two 22-lap world Superbike races.
In world Supersport, five locals will compete in the 21-lapper: Mark Aitchison and Garry McCoy (both Triumph), title favourite Broc Parkes (Yamaha), Josh Brookes (Honda) and 2001 world champion Andrew Pitt (Honda).
The three-day event will be a non-stop procession of on-track action, with the two international classes to be joined by four national support categories: Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and the Period 4 & Period 5 Challenge. The on-track action starts at 8.10am on Saturday and 8.30am on Friday and Sunday.
EVENT INFORMATION AND TICKET PRICES
General Admission 3 Day – $128 (concessions available)
Bar SBK 3 Day – $210
Camping Trackside – $90
