Bayliss: ‘I’d need £1million to race Rossi’

Troy Bayliss has revealed he’s tempted by the gauntlet thrown down by MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi for a one off race on Superbikes in 2009, but he’d need a lot of money to do it.

Bayliss who retired after the final round of the WSB championship, as a three-time world champion believes Rossi would have no problem getting up to speed on a Superbike and is flattered by the Italian’s desire to race him.

Speaking exclusively to MCN from his home in Monaco, Bayliss said:
“I spoke with Valentino and he told me that he wants to race me really badly! It wouldn’t be so hard for him to be competitive on a Superbike, Yamaha have got a strong bike so it would no problem at all for him to get up to speed. Valentino Rossi is Valentino Rossi.

“For me right now I’ve stopped training and I’m happy with my plan to finish. 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 £1m and that’s not going to happen.”

For more details read the Troy Bayliss interview in the December 24 issue of MCN