Question:
The first round, at Qatar, didn't go according to plan – why was that?

Troy Bayliss:
Basically because Qatar is always like that for us. We have always done well there in the past in testing and come race time we qualify well but it has always been a struggle. For some reason we struggle there more than anywhere with acceleration. Especially out of the last corner our gearing we can't find anything. It is something so small but it is a difficult track for us and basically the whole year has been like that for us.

It has been a difficult year for us, we knew it was going to be difficult anyway as everybody is on top of their game. Everybody has very good bikes that they are riding. Being the last year for the 999 we still believed that we had a chance of winning the championship at the start of the year.

Q:
Toseland laid down the gauntlet at Phillip Island in race two, a track you go well at, how did you feel about that?

TB:
We knew he was going to be a tough guy to be up against this year. He has ridden very well, but I can say in my defence that I have had a difficult year. We knew it was going to be difficult but I think I've given away close to 100 points. Well not given away, I've given away 50 through my crash at Donington, and then I've been robbed a couple of times.

My second race at Phillip Island I went backwards with a few laps to go, also we saw the same again in Lausitzring in the first race. We knew this year there wasn't room for error and we had some and that has basically thrown it away. Championships are never easy and they always become more difficult to grab every year.

Q:
How serious was your crash at Donington?

TB:
They never showed the crash properly on television, but there was a violent start to the crash and then I was just unlucky after that. We know that I lost my finger, but also I did some damage to my groin. I'm all fine now but I mean it wasn't a nice time for me and it took a little bit of time to get over that. Not just physically but... I was down a bit for a while, maybe six to eight weeks. Even though I came back and did a reasonably good job in Valencia, it has just been one of those years. I've had some good results, the team has worked very hard and we have done our best but it hasn't been enough. That is it really.


Q:
What about highlights from this year as it is the final season for the 999, which was a little bit of a disadvantage?

TB:
I'm not saying we were at a disadvantage to anybody, I just think we are at the end of our time with the 999 and it has been more difficult than ever. We had to be absolutely on top of our game to take a win. Even though I may not have won the championship it has still been a great year and I've still got lots of things that I enjoyed about the year and lots of good memories.

It has been very difficult but I've had a lot of wins in my career but this year there has been a couple of very good battles especially with James. Assen and Phillip Island were good battles. To take a win this year you certainly deserve it, if you take a win you've had your work cut out and you really deserve to take that win. James has been on it this year, like I said championship don't come easily and he has had his ups and downs this year as well, even the last couple of races hasn't been easy for him.

Q:
How excited are you about 2008 and the new 1098?

TB:
Honestly I haven't done much on the bike. I rode it at Ducati week in Misano in front of the Ducati fans, then we had a real test before our race. That was my first initiation with the bike; it did go quite well, it feels totally different to the 999. It feels a little bit bigger and even though it feels bigger it seems to me that it changes direction a little nicer.

The motor seems strong which is what we are hoping for with better acceleration. Even though I say that it is very early in the development and we need to work, I don't feel at home on the bike yet. Like I said I've only done a couple of days on the bike and because it is so new and different I am looking forward to next year on it but I am going to be pushing very hard not just on myself but with Ducati and everybody involved. I'm only getting one shot at it because next year is my last year and I'd love to go out in style.

Q:
So it is going to be a long hard winter?

TB: