Source: KTM.

Aussie road racing legend and three-time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss will take his KTM into arguably its toughest environment yet, at this weekend’s Marc Marquez Superprestigio at Palau Sant Jordi Arena in Barcelona.

Held for the first time last year, the event has returned to include a broader range of two-wheeled talent from a host of disciplines, and from all over the world, among them the reigning Australian dirt track and supermotard champion from Taree.

Bayliss will ride his beloved 2012 SMR 450 in the Superprestigio class at the former Olympic Stadium, on an indoor oval track approximately 250 meters in length.

Though he retired from world championship road racing in 2008, Bayliss is passionate about his dirt track roots at both an event promotion and a participation level – and as his domination of both the Aussie dirt track and supermotard championships suggests, he’s in a scalpel-sharp nick.

“Many of the top MotoGP riders are really getting into dirt track for their training, so it’s helping lift the profile of the sport, and that’s why I want to do this race,” Bayliss explained. “We do our event in Australia, but it just makes sense to go over there and give it a go with them guys.

“It’s going to be pretty cool, I haven’t done a lot of the short track stuff, but KTM Australia and KTM in Spain have helped organise getting my bike over there, so at least I’m in a pretty good way straight off the bat. I’ll be riding something that I know.

“Jeff and KTM have been helping me out for a couple of years now with bikes for the flat track, and this year we managed to win the 250, the 450 and the Unlimited titles in the Australian dirt track championships, then the following weekend we won the 250 and 450 supermotard championship as well.

“But my main bike is one I bought a few years ago, because I like the KTMs, and its 2012 SMR450. Even though I say 2012, it’s far from old -it’s got more good bits on it than you can imagine!”

In Spain he’ll bang bars with the likes of event host Marc Marquez and fellow Moto GP racer Bradley Smith, as well as a heap of Moto2 and Moto3 competitors including the only other Aussie in the event, Remy Gardner, son of 1987 World 500cc champ Wayne.

The event’s Open class will also feature a litany of talent including world championship level riders from Enduro, Long track, Extreme Enduro, Isle of Man, Dirt Track and Supermotard including KTM heroes Ivan Cervantes and Taddy Blazusiak.