BAYLISS RIDES THE ROLLERCOASTER TO VICTORY.
Troy Bayliss finished his World Superbike career in the only way he knows how -- by winning the final two races in Portimao, Portugal on Sunday. Dubbed the Rollercoaster, the Portimao circuit is making its debut this year and is already being touted as the best track on the calendar.
Despite an indifferent performance in Friday and Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the weekend belonged to Troy. He grabbed his 26th pole in deteriorating conditions before a dominant double-race victory in his final two outings on the Ducati. Troy’s 08 season contained 11 race victories, which would ultimately lead to his 3rd world title and deliver Ducati yet another constructor's championship.
Troy is a relatively unknown sports star in Australia but he is a superstar across Europe and a household name in Italy.
At 39 Troy ends his career on a high and on top of his game, however he’s not ready to hang up the racing leathers just yet. Plenty is on offer, including the Race Of Champions in December at Wembley Stadium before returning home to Australia and the possibility that Troy will have a crack at the V8 Supercar series in 09.
AC 4/11/08