Bayliss Would Need $1.5M to Face Rossi

Motorcycle.com Staff
by Motorcycle.com Staff

Bayliss would need $1.5M to face Rossi

World Superbike champion retired on top
By Motorcycle.Com Staff, Dec. 23, 2008
Troy Bayliss has named his price for coming out of retirement to face Valentino Rossi in a proposed race between the two champions.

The retired World Superbike champion told MotorcycleNews.com it would take about 1 million British pounds (US$1.5 million) to convince him to face MotoGP champion Rossi, though Bayliss says its not likely to happen.

Bayliss has not raced since capturing two wins in the World Superbike season finale Nov. 2 in Portimao, Portugal.

For me right now Ive stopped training and Im happy with my plan to finish. Im 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, Bayliss told MotorcycleNews.com. For me to do it (race Rossi), Id need something like £1m and thats not going to happen.

After retiring on a winning note, Troy Bayliss says it would take $1.5M to convince him to race against Valentino Rossi.
Bayliss did confirm that Rossi brought up the idea of a race between them, as reported by Spanish magazine Solo Moto. The weekly publication was the first to report about a proposed race between Bayliss on his Ducati 1098 F08 and Rossi on a Superbike spec Yamaha YZF-R1. Bayliss comments to MotorcycleNews.com were the first official statements from either rider.

I spoke with Valentino and he told me that he wants to race me really badly! Bayliss told MotorcycleNews.com. It wouldnt be so hard for him to be competitive on a Superbike, Yamaha have got a strong bike so it would (be) no problem at all for him to get up to speed. Valentino Rossi is Valentino Rossi.

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