World Superbikes: Troy Bayliss gets first ride on new Ducati 1200 superbike

Reigning World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss got his first ride on the 1200cc version of the Ducati 1098 that he’ll race in next year’s World Superbike Championship.

Riding at Misano as part of World Ducati Week, Troy Bayliss completed a hand full of laps in what was the first public outing of the new bike.

Troy Bayliss rode the standard 1098 road bike at it’s official launch last December in Kylami, but hasn’t been involved in testing the Superbike.

The main development has been done behind closed doors in the hands of the Ducati Xerox Junior team.

Riders Niccolò Canepa and Domenico Colucci have ridden hundreds of laps around Mugello in Italy in an effort to get the bike up top speed.

Ducati’s decision to unveil the bike now in Misano has come after new technical regulations for the 2008 World Superbike Championship were finally agreed, which allow 1200cc twins to compete alongside 1000cc four cylinder machines.

“I just saw the new 1098 for the first time yesterday. It looks and feels good and although it clearly doesn’t feel like home after a couple of laps, I’m sure Ducati are moving in the right direction and it will be soon.

“I’ve still got a few things to concentrate on at the moment, like winning this year’s title, but I’m really looking forward to testing the bike at a quieter moment in the future.