World Superbike legend
Troy Bayliss expects 2008 to be his last season of racing - especially if he succeeds in winning a third world title.
The 38-year-old, WSBK champion in 2001 and then again on his return from
MotoGP in 2006, sunk to fourth in the 2007 standings after accidents and injuries on the aging 999 Ducati - but will return for what looks like being his final world championship battle armed with a brand-new, 1200cc, 1098.
"I was going to stop in 1997, and in 2002 and again in 2005, but this job just keeps going. This time, I'm thinking next year will be my last," Australia's
Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reports Bayliss as saying.
"I'd really love to finish off with a win on the 1098. And if I win, there's no reason to keep going," confirmed Troy. "I've had a good run; I'm nearly 39 and I can't go on forever. I've won lots of races, won a couple of World Superbike titles, won my last MotoGP race, and really enjoyed my racing."
Bayliss' brilliant first-and-last MotoGP victory came while replacing the injured Sete Gibernau at the 2006 Valencia season finale - and marked one of the proudest moments of his eight-year international career.
Troy had been a full time MotoGP racer from 2003-2005, but a promising debut season turned sour in 2004 - culminating in the loss of his Ducati seat - while a switch to Honda also proved unsuccessful.
A serious wrist injury while training looked to have marked the end of a winless grand prix career and Bayliss returned to WSBK with Ducati for 2006. Troy then rebuilt his reputation by winning 12 of the 24 races en route to the title, before being asked by Ducati to make one last MotoGP appearance.
Despite his previous grand prix misery, Bayliss dominated the race - which also saw
Nicky Hayden take a shock title victory over
Valentino Rossi - and put his GP demons firmly to rest.
"That [MotoGP] win closed the book for me," said Bayliss. "I didn't have to say anything. We did our thing and walked away. I never intended to go back."
