Troy Bayliss, the reigning World Superbike Champion who retired after last year after his third championship win, couldn’t stay away from WSB for long, as he returned to the Phillip Island paddock as a spectator this weekend, and was interviewed by the media.
“It’s great to be here at the Island but at the same time very strange to not be riding with all the guys.
I guess it is going to hit more a bit later this weekend.
I was here for the first practice session and it was OK, I sort of enjoyed watching it and didn’t have any inclination to join in.
But it is a strange situation, although I am quite happy with it at the moment.
” I watched today’s sessions and as we knew Sunday will be a real battle between several fast guys.
I am here with some friends who come every year and who made the aussie flag for me when I won here last year.
I am really looking forward to seeing the racing and I’ll be giving the trophy to the race 2 winner which will be interesting, I would like to see Nori and Michel up there for sure!Bayliss agreed with the general opinion that World Superbike in 2009 is going to be one of the best ever.
“I think it’s going to be great – new marques coming in, a lot of riders racing at every round and also some wild cards at some events.
It’s going to be very close – and it’s already close now.
We have Ben Spies, and a lot of English riders as well.
I was watching this morning and Spies is already on song.
I really think he is going to be one of the top guys, along with Nori, and I’m sure Michel is going to be good as well.
I think this year there will be more winners at different races than we have ever seen.
”Asked about his future, Bayliss had this to say:“It’s strange not having anything to do.
I travel around, but it’s kind of annoying not having anything to do.
Ducati has asked me to become their test rider but we’re going to talk about it around July when we start working on the 2010 bike.
I’ve got to see how it goes, because I could be lousy at that type of job.
”The race with Valentino? When I decided to retire from racing, I did it definitely.
The duel would have been interesting, but not now that I’ve stopped racing.
”When asked if the Ducati can win in MotoGP, the 3 times World Champion said: “I think that the Desmosedici can win again because Stoner is very strong, but Valentino is a Champion and I don’t think he’d agree.
