Rossi to take on Bayliss in world Superbike cameo?

December 23, 2008

It's a story big enough to make even motorcycle racing purists weak at the knees - MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi taking on Troy Bayliss and the rest of the world Superbike riders in a cameo during the 2009 season.

Rumours have been swirling around Italian magazines over the last couple of days that the Italian superstar, an unabashed fan of WSBK racing, is serious about taking on Bayliss, who is now officially retired from motorcycle racing after winning his third WSBK title in 2008.

Despite a number of obstacles to overcome, the story continues to gain momentum, particularly when a superstar such as Rossi plans to put himself on the line against the WSBK elite - including Bayliss if he can be tempted out of retirement.

Bayliss, who is keen to kickstart a career in V8 Supercars once he relocates to the Gold Coast in early January, would have no trouble in sourcing a factory Ducati for a match race, and Yamaha's all-new YZF-R1 is certainly shaping as a competitive machine from the get-go, with American Ben Spies impressing in pre-season testing with the bike still only in a mild state of tune.

"I spoke with Valentino and he told me that he wants to race me really badly,'' Bayliss told motorcyclenews.com. "It wouldn't be so hard for him to be competitive on a Superbike. Valentino Rossi is Valentino Rossi.

"(But) I'm feeling happy that the last time I rode I was world champion, plus I won both races and beat all the other guys out there.

"For me to do it I'd need something like Stg1 million ($A2.1m), and that's not going to happen.''

The final round of this year's WSBK title in Portimao would have been an ideal time for Rossi to make his hit and run mission, but now all the talk is about a 'Duel in the Desert', referring to the second round of this year's championship at Losail in Qatar on April 14.

However, the opening round at Australia's Phillip Island (February 27-March 1) would certainly be a better fit, because it would be on Bayliss home turf, while Rossi has always said the circuit is one of his all-time favourites.

Also, Phillip Island makes more sense from a logistical point of view, because it will then give Rossi more time to purge the WSBK drug from his system before he gets back to MotoGP business in the first round at Losail on April 12.

Fergus Cameron, the General Manager of PI Operations, which promotes the local WSBK round, would be delighted to see the MotoGP legend take his place on the grid on March 1.

"We'd love the match race to happen here," said Cameron. "I first heard about the story from FG Sport (the WSBK rights holder) a couple of weeks ago and didn't take too much notice, but now it is definitely credible enough.

"Rossi certainly loves Phillip Island and Bayliss obviously knows his way around too.

"In the New Year I'll touch base with FG Sport again, and I'll then get a better feel for how it's all progressing."

Hitherto, Rossi's only real experience on a Superbike was in 2001 when he partnered Colin Edwards to victory in the Suzuka 8 Hour in Japan. The pair rode a VTR1000SPW.

In recent years, Rossi's main extra-curricular activities have been rallying and the occasional practice session in a Ferrari F1 car.

However, making the crossover to WSBK is definitely more complicated, and it probably wouldn't leave the MotoGP rights holder, Dorna, jumping out of its skin.

And, the bigger question is: would Yamaha agree to the whole thing, especially as Rossi will be on an unfamiliar bike and tyres (Pirelli) - and just a month or so out from the MotoGP kick-off.

If anyone can break down those barriers, it's the prodigiously gifted Rossi. Yamaha has so far poured cold water on the WSBK idea, but stranger things have happened.

Pics: Rossi enjoys another MotoGP win in 2008, and in full flight on the Honda at the 2001 Suzuka 8 Hour