The Troy Bayliss Experience

It seems that three is the lucky number for Troy Bayliss, the rider that regularly beat the best of the best in world Superbike and also MotoGP. He shocked the motorcycling world when he retired from the sport – at the peak of his throttle-twisting powers – with three Superbike championships in his back pocket and a one-off MotoGP win trophy on the mantelpiece. No slide to the midfield for our Troy!

So what does a successful rider do once he leaves the WSB circus? Well, aside from still being the go-to man for Ducati’s performance testing program, Troy’s decided it’s time to give back to the sport and, in particular, to the public that’s supported him from day one here in Australia.

From August 2011, the Troy Bayliss Experience (TBE) will kick off with a select menu of dates and locations around the country, giving you the chance to ride the ride and talk the talk with the man himself.

For the TBE launch day, I rock up on Yamaha’s finest, the might R1. Talk about standing out like the preverbal sore thumb – I’m on the only non-Ducati at the event.

The secret location is from the ‘I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you’ files. It’s a private facility, a short ride north of Sydney, and money can’t buy you on to its smooth (but today, very wet) tarmac. It’s what any self-respecting moto head would do with a massive lottery win. Okay, it's The Farm...

Over 5km of winding, dipping and rising road, designed to let vehicles be ridden and driven exactly how they were designed to be. To say I’m excited to be here is this year’s understatement.

He might be three-time champ fast, but Troy can’t beat the rain, which is steadily falling as he arrives. Talking to him, it’s clear that his easy-going manner means that no question a fan might want to ask is off-limits – there’s no PR dude vetting the questions first.

It’s also clear how happy he is to be running these days. He’s keen to describe every thought he has before he takes his bike out (The bike might be a Troy Bayliss replica Ducati, but the rider’s the real deal…) and outlines how the day will run. Just like in his racing days, there’s a team of people behind Troy. But they’re not here to change tyres or set suspension clickers, just to make sure your every whim is catered for.

With a ‘boooaaarr-braaaaaap’ from the TB replica’s Termignonis, the first group of riders hit the wet track. The groups are kept small so that Troy can get a chance to watch every rider and offer advice. By now, the track’s fully wet and I’m looking at the near-slick Dunlops on my bike and cursing the rain gods. I’m still dead keen to get out there and ride with Troy and on this road. Damn, why can’t it be dry?

It really is a river out there and I’m tipping into the corners so gently that I feel like a newbie on his first ride. It’s clear the facility would be awesome in the dry and I can only hope this afternoon dries the racing line. A wet-shod Troy fires past and I’m treated to the view of him most world-class riders got.

Back in the pits Troy’s mingling with the crowd, making everyone feel at ease. If you’re thinking that this is the event to showcase your bike talent to Troy, forget it. You might think you’re handy on a race bike but he’s seen it all before, and beaten the best at his game. As such, this is no ‘normal’ track day. It really is about the experience of being able to get up close and personal with a rider that’s been such a public figure for over the past decade and a half. We cruise into a home-cooked lunch – no pie and chips here!

For a brief moment, the sun wins the weather war and, with the help from a slight wind, starts to heat the road, a dry, racing line forming on most corners. Bring it on!

With such a long road to circulate on, many areas remain wet and the lap becomes half attack and half tiptoe. Troy jumps in front of me and we ride together for a whole lap, me watching his lines, braking and acceleration points, him possibly thinking about what’s for dinner…

Then the rain comes again, increasing in intensity until I’m soaked and upright on the corners. If this had been just a track day, then the rain would have signalled game-over.

But I’m back in the pits and Troy’ there to answer any questions I have. “So, how about a go on the twin-seater, Mr B?”

Now I hate being pillion. It always seems the rider’s going to loose the front on every corner, as all my riding info has been learned from the front saddle – but there’s someone sitting there at the moment, and I reckon he knows what he’s doing.

With the rain pinging off my helmet, I’m sitting high like Troy’s backpack (though one that weighs about 100kg with wet leathers). This should be interesting!

Troy adapts to my pillion bulk quickly as I hold on to the tank-mounted grab handles. On warm, full wet tyres, he’s braking hard, gassing hard and knifing through the bends like you’d expect of a guy with his talent. This is the fastest I’ve been round all day and there’s no better insight into how a racer thinks and acts in poor conditions like this.

Ride over, I unfold myself from the Ducati’s perch and mentally cross the ‘ride with world champ’ off the list. And you can too. A few quick laps on the Duke is an option at every day, and one not to be missed.

Head to www.troybaylissexperience.com.au and have a gander at dates, prices and venues. I can fully recommend the Sydney location as it adds the ‘X’ factor to an already special day.

Remember, these days are all about the experience of just hanging with the champ, not about maximum track time – you can do that any day of the week.

Even before this launch, TBE has already taken bookings from around the world. So get in quick, prep your bike, think of what you want to ask Troy and co and luxuriate in a moto-day never to forget.

Bikesales Network: So Troy, you retired at the top. Why?
Troy Bayliss: It was time for us (the family) to move home. We’d spent 11years in Europe and that included a few extra years over the original plan. I wanted to literally walk away from the sport uninjured, too.

So the retirement happened in 2008. What have you been up to since?
I’ve been cruising around, y’know! I’m still contracted to Ducati and go back to Italy three times a year. I’m off to test the 2012 world Superbike bike soon. I’m the Ducati performance tester, meaning all the normal testing has been done and they look to me (and my team) to get those last tenths out of the bike. Since my retirement, I’ve got quicker every time I test a new bike.

So you’re getting quicker each test? Does that mean will we ever see Troy Bayliss return to full-time racing?
I did seriously consider it last season. The media were constantly asking about it and my riding’s as good, if not better, than ever. But then I came to my senses. I’m fit, happy and have nothing left to prove.

Where are you best known, in Australia or Italy?
I get mobbed in Italy! I could honestly live there, as there are so many work opportunities, but Australia’s where the heart is and that’s why I’ve designed these experience days.

So when did you get the idea for the Troy Bayliss Experience?
It was last year, when I was a guest rider on the Ducati Ride Experience. I ran the Troy Bayliss Academy, training the best of the best upcoming racers. It was a massive affair with hundreds of Ducatis in the pits and some talented riders competing. It was great fun so I thought about bringing a slice of that over here.