Bayliss to test Ducati MotoGP bike

Troy Bayliss has emphatically declared his motorcycle racing days are numbered, and he's even lined up a V8 Supercar test next month as he moves on with the next phase of his life.

But there are some perks that come with being a three-time world superbike champion and MotoGP winner for Ducati.

While John Howard has a taxpayer-funded office and free domestic travel after leaving politics, Bayliss' retirement 'package' is just a little more high-voltage - being invited to throw a leg over Ducati's racing tackle.

That arrangement is going to kickstart next week when Bayliss tests Ducati's Desmosedici GP9 machine at Mugello for three days, alongside the team's official MotoGP test rider, Vittoriano Guareschi.

Ducati will be hoping that Bayliss can provide some valuable feedback on its MotoGP machine, which continues to be a front-runner in the gifted hands of Australian Casey Stoner, but American Nicky Hayden has so far failed to make an impression.

And last year, Italian Marco Melandri had a disastrous year as Stoner's teammate, and is now riding for Kawasaki.

Before the Mugello test, Bayliss will attend this weekend's round five of the world superbike title at Monza.

Photo: Bayliss leads Rossi in his winning MotoGP cameo at Valencia in 2006