News 14 Jun 2010

WSBK: Bayliss rules out racing return following Misano test

Australia’s triple Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss has ruled out a return to competition after testing at Misano last week, admitting he spoke too soon when hinting at a possible comeback for next season.

Aussie Troy Bayliss has ruled out a return to racing after testing with Ducati Xerox at Misano last week.

Aussie Troy Bayliss has ruled out a return to racing after testing with Ducati Xerox at Misano last week.

Australia’s triple Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss has ruled out a return to competition, admitting he spoke too soon when hinting at a possible comeback for next season.

Bayliss revealed last month that he had the desire to return to racing in 2011 after a competitive test with his former Ducati Xerox team, however he confirmed at last week’s World Ducati Week in Misano that he won’t be making a comeback.

“I spoke too soon,” the 40-year-old explained. “Everything felt easy for me and I said that I wanted to comeback – I guess I started my own rumor. But when I tested here I found out that things weren’t going that good and we ended up going around in circles.

“That’s when it hit me and it was hard things like that that I didn’t miss about racing. That completely I changed my mind I don’t want to come back racing and I don’t want to do any wild cards. I’m retired and I’m happy.”

Bayliss spoke of a recent test in Italy where he rode the factory 1198 R alongside current Ducati factory riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio, instead opting to remain in retirement after bowing out of the sport as world champion at the end of the 2008 season.

The test took place at Misano in the lead-up to WDW, where Bayliss lapped significantly off the pace of regulars Fabrizio and Haga during the two days according to Italian reports, taking the shine off his previous record-breaking run at Mugello last month.

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