Bayliss is relaxed and ready to win again

It would be easy to assume reigning WSB champion Troy Bayliss is more stressed than ever as he considers the defence of his title in 2002.

But the Australian reckons he has never been so relaxed in his entire racing life.

Combine the way Bayliss feels plus a new factory Ducati that’s already putting out a stonking 186bhp and the combination for 2002 looks formidable.

He said: ” I feel great – I’m relaxed, I’m as fit as ever and I cannot wait to get going and start racing again.

Four-times WSB champion Carl Fogarty said: ” Winning a title was always hard work but keeping it is even tougher because of all the other things you have to do like touring dealers and going to factories and stuff.

” Winning a title can make you slack as well – it takes the pressure off but you can end up getting more stressed than ever before. ”

None of this seems to be affecting Bayliss which is not good news for his rivals.

Bayliss now recognises he felt more pressure last term than he let on. He said: ” I was so stressed because everything was riding on me to win the world title. Not just for me but also for Ducati – it was so obvious the factory needed a win. And there was no way I was going to settle for anything less. ”

Bayliss and family have just returned from holiday in the Maldives and he has been working on his already high state of fitness.

He and his Ducati team-mates will be flying to Phillip Island for the first official WSB test of the season on January 30 – February 1. We’ll carry updates direct from the tests.