Troy Bayliss

3x World Superbike Champion

The first international race for Troy Bayliss was on an underpowered 250cc Suzuki at Phillip Island in 1997.

He was running third until three riders slip-streamed past him in the run to the finish.

But it got him to the British championship which he won in his second year.

It was then off to the US in 2000 until he was called in to replace the injured Carl Fogarty in Ducati’s World Superbike team.

Despite missing three rounds he finished sixth in a championship he was to win the next year.

So it was off to MotoGP, still with Ducati. But over four seasons the bikes and his results got worse, just four third places, prompting a return to Superbikes.

In three years he claimed two world championships, an impressive 52 wins and 94 podiums in 152 races, as well as 26 pole positions and 35 fastest laps.

Only Carl Fogarty has won more races.

In his last start in MotoGP with Ducati he qualified second to Valentino Rossi but won the race convincingly.

Now Troy Bayliss runs motorcycle shows, the Australian Superbike championships and dirt track meetings at places like his Taree home circuit at Old Bar.