Mark your calendar for Sunday 29 May. The Ducati Club Race is of course more than worthwhile in its own right, but the arrival of three-time World Champion Troy Bayliss makes this year’s event extra special.
Troy Bayliss has been associated with Ducati for almost his entire career. In 1992, when he was already 23, the Australian started racing. After riding in England for a while, he entered the World Championship from the 2000 season. He won two races that first year and finished sixth in the final standings. Bayliss showed himself to be a quick learner, as a year later he already won his first world title, followed by a second place in 2002. Then followed three years in MotoGP, two on Ducati and one on Honda.
In 2006 Bayliss returned to World Superbike and took his second world title that year. Two years later, he secured his third world title, after which he ended his career. Bayliss crossed the finish line as the race winner 52 times. Only two drivers (Jonathan Rea and Carl Fogarty) were victorious more often.
At the end of the 2006 racing season, Bayliss was asked by Ducati to replace the injured Sete Gibernau at the last MotoGP of that year. Bayliss agreed… and to everyone’s surprise won this MotoGP race. This makes Bayliss the only rider in history to win a race in both World Superbike and MotoGP in one season.
Bayliss is extremely popular among his fans because he has always been open to them. That will undoubtedly become apparent again on May 29. There is then the possibility to take a picture with him and to ask for an autograph. Bayliss will be interviewed and no doubt he will also do some laps at the TT Circuit Assen himself.
The Ducati Club Race will be held on May 27, 28 and 29. More than 400 participants are expected, who will start in many classes. In addition to all kinds of Ducati classes, there is also room for other categories such as the sidecars.
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