by icebreaker » Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:55 pm
Bayliss for Kawasaki (Aus Motorcycle News) Pg 119
Dumped Malboro Ducati rider Troy Bayliss is in serious talked with Harold Eckl, hoping to join the Kawasaki MotoGP team for 2005.
Bayliss broke the bad news to his countrymen on the ove of the Australian Grand Prix, that he is looking for a job next year after Ducati decided to not renew his contract.
This confirms his words in Malaysia, when the team was still saying: "We haven't decided yet about Troy... he is still on the list"/
"This is the final kick in the teeth - but i'm taking it on the chin," Bayliss told the pre-race press conference at Phillip Island.
Bayless believes himself the scapegoat for the disappointing performance of the 2004 Ducati, after the marque's stront debut the previous season.
"Somebody has to pay, and it's me," he said in Malaysia.
He enlarged on the theme in Australia, talking up his erstwhile employer at the same time.
"It doesn't mean I'm going to cruise around for the final races. I'm even testing for Ducati at Phillip Island on Monday, and I'll give it 100 percent. I still believe I haven't shown what I'm capable of in MotoGP, and I want to do that".
"I still believe in Ducati.. but they don't believe in me," he added.
Satellite team '03 machines have performed better than the new bikes on several occasions with MotoGP rookie Ruben Xaus being them at every track where he had prior experience or where nobody had any.
At the new Qatar track the 2004 Rookie of the Year gave Ducati it first rostrum of '04 finishing third.
Michael Scott
Can't wait to here more...
Ducati Monster S2R1000
Kawasaki '77 Z1000A1, '76 z900 (Project) & '78 Z1000A2 (Project)
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