It's ON?

[xx CURVE xx]

:zowned:

LINK-O-DEATH (http://eurosport.yahoo.com/17122008/58/rossi-set-bayliss-superbike-duel.html) :lol:

Rossi set for Bayliss Superbike duel
Eurosport - Wed, 17 Dec 12:27:00 2008

MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has agreed to a one-off Superbike race against Troy Bayliss, according to reports in Spain.

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Solo Moto magazine claims the Italian will take on Bayliss in a head-to-head battle on March 14 in Qatar, saying the deal is "said and done".

The duel will take place during the weekend of the second round of the 2009 Superbike World Championship at the Losail circuit.

Rossi is expected to race a Yamaha R1 - as used by factory riders Tom Sykes and Ben Spies in 2009 - while Bayliss will be on the familiar Xerox Ducati.

Bayliss retired from the World Superbike scene after romping to his third championship in 2008 on the Ducati.

The Australian's dominance of an increasingly competitive series earned him the Rider of the Year award from the well-respected Italian magazine Moto Sprint ahead of Rossi, who won his sixth world championship in MotoGP's premier class, his eighth overall.

The 29-year-old Rossi is thought to be unhappy at the snub, and has agreed to the race in a bid to hammer home his supremacy.

Rossi recently said he was keen to take Bayliss on one-versus-one, telling Corriere dello Sport: "If there was an opportunity and the right date then I would race there tomorrow.

"I like World Superbikes to be mad, I like to watch it and I'd love to ride in it, the problem is the dates.

"I do not know when, but I hope that I can make a race in WSB. I am sad that I would not be able to race against Bayliss on track now because I would like to challenge him on a superbike. Maybe, if I ask him he might even come back for one race for the challenge."

There has been no official confirmation from either rider.

[dReWpY]

fucking awesome

[shmike]

Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope.

Not familiar with the rag. Are they generally a reputable source?

[Rider]

Awesome. I cant wait to see it.

[xx CURVE xx]

Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope.

Not familiar with the rag. Are they generally a reputable source?

Well EURO-SPORT sure is...not sure about Solo Moto Magazine..

[Quick281]

Sick.....!!!

[Ducati Diva]

Clear the schedule and set the DVR!!!!!!! That's going to be one hell of a race!

[smileyman]

Is that date going to conflict with Bayliss' Aus. Supercar schedule? You know he is retiring to race cars?

[xx CURVE xx]

Is that date going to conflict with Bayliss' Aus. Supercar schedule? You know he is retiring to race cars?

Chickenshit way out :lol:

[smileyman]

Yeah, but I think at almost 40 he intended to be home for his family more. He has raced the best all over the world for years and I am sure he will accept any challenge given. Do you remember any racer going out on top like he has in recent memory? Hell even last 20 years?

[xx CURVE xx]

Yeah, but I think at almost 40 he intended to be home for his family more. He has raced the best all over the world for years and I am sure he will accept any challenge given. Do you remember any racer going out on top like he has in recent memory? Hell even last 20 years?

You'd also think at almost 40 he'd learn not to talk shit huh :lol:

[xx CURVE xx]

It's growing legs :lol:

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-bayliss-accepts-rossi-challenge-for-the-duel-in-the-desert

[smileyman]

Most racers talk shit. I think you have to have that attitude if your gonna line up against the best in the world every weekend. Otherwise your beat before the green flag falls...

[xx CURVE xx]

Most racers talk shit. I think you have to have that attitude if your gonna line up against the best in the world every weekend. Otherwise your beat before the green flag falls...

Goddambit! I can't debate bike racing when i agree with you! :panic:

[Corey]

What are they looking to prove? Who the better rider is or what the better bike is? If they're going for rider, wouldn't it be more appropriate to use a bike that neither of them races on with identical bits and pieces, with the only difference being rider setup and rider? Otherwise they're just going to be subject to "Rossi couldn't win because he races a completely different bike, while Bayliss has is already familiar with the bike." or "Rossi won because Yamaha gave him some trick parts that most of the factory racers don't get." Or worse "waaaaaaaaaaaah, tires."

Put them both on a stock Kawasaki. Then let them race.

[smileyman]

Better yet put them on 2 showroom stock models on street tires...Preferrably a 600...Still wouldnt determine a clear winner. I firmly believe that on any given day any one can win. There are just two many variables. Thats why championships should be earned season long and not in just one race.

[SoFlaSV]

What are they looking to prove? Who the better rider is or what the better bike is? If they're going for rider, wouldn't it be more appropriate to use a bike that neither of them races on with identical bits and pieces, with the only difference being rider setup and rider? Otherwise they're just going to be subject to "Rossi couldn't win because he races a completely different bike, while Bayliss has is already familiar with the bike." or "Rossi won because Yamaha gave him some trick parts that most of the factory racers don't get." Or worse "waaaaaaaaaaaah, tires."

Put them both on a stock Kawasaki. Then let them race.

:iagree:

[PhiSig1071]

Rossi is just pissed 'cause when Bayliss raced as a fill-in in MotoGP he whupped everybody. That and an Italian motorcycle rag named Bayliss the Rider of the year in '08.

[Dnyce]

Rossi is just pissed 'cause when Bayliss raced as a fill-in in MotoGP he whupped everybody. That and an Italian motorcycle rag named Bayliss the Rider of the year in '08.

sounds like it to me...

[xx CURVE xx]

Rossi is just pissed 'cause when Bayliss raced as a fill-in in MotoGP he whupped everybody. That and an Italian motorcycle rag named Bayliss the Rider of the year in '08.

Yes i'm Sure his 8 world Championships mean shit to him :lol:

More here..in MotoUSA now lol

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/1972/Motorcycle-Article/Rossi-and-Bayliss-Duel-in-the-Desert.aspx

[PhiSig1071]

Yes i'm Sure his 8 world Championships mean shit to him :lol:

More here..in MotoUSA now lol

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/1972/Motorcycle-Article/Rossi-and-Bayliss-Duel-in-the-Desert.aspx

He wants to be the GOAT (which is a position which will never be vacated by John Surtees in my opinion) and getting upstaged by Bayliss as rider of the year got to him. Why else would he make that claim? If he is 8 world championships are that important what does he have to prove in a WSBK show-down?

[xx CURVE xx]

He wants to be the GOAT (which is a position which will never be vacated by John Surtees in my opinion) and getting upstaged by Bayliss as rider of the year got to him. Why else would he make that claim? If he is 8 world championships are that important what does he have to prove in a WSBK show-down?

John Surtess is a legend i'll give you that..not the GOAT..thats Rossi brother.

who cares about prove...how about just for fun? :idk:

[PhiSig1071]

John Surtess is a legend i'll give you that..not the GOAT..thats Rossi brother.

who cares about prove...how about just for fun? :idk:

Surtees gets my vote. Simply because he could have stayed in 500cc and continued winning, but he chose to switch to F1 and he won that too. Surtees had a combined 8 championships between 350cc, 500cc and F1. He's also the first person to win the Isle of Mann TT 3 times in a row, while it was still a part of the GP Circuit. The Nurburgring, Isle of Mann, that was SERIOUS racing. He is also the only person to win Championships on both two and four wheels. Sorry, but Rossi doesn't even compete IMO.

But yeah, you could be right, he could be doing it just for fun.

[Dnyce]

Surtees gets my vote. Simply because he could have stayed in 500cc and continued winning, but he chose to switch to F1 and he won that too. Surtees had a combined 8 championships between 350cc, 500cc and F1. He's also the first person to win the Isle of Mann TT 3 times in a row, while it was still a part of the GP Circuit. The Nurburgring, Isle of Mann, that was SERIOUS racing. He is also the only person to win Championships on both two and four wheels. Sorry, but Rossi doesn't even compete IMO.

But yeah, you could be right, he could be doing it just for fun.

if its just for fun or charity or something, thats cool-but as far as GOAT when it comes to motorcycle racing, the fact that surtees won on four wheels shouldnt be a factor. not saying rossi over surtees, but unless u meant GOAT in motorsports period, who cares what he did on 4wheels...

[marko138]

What are they looking to prove? Who the better rider is or what the better bike is? If they're going for rider, wouldn't it be more appropriate to use a bike that neither of them races on with identical bits and pieces, with the only difference being rider setup and rider? Otherwise they're just going to be subject to "Rossi couldn't win because he races a completely different bike, while Bayliss has is already familiar with the bike." or "Rossi won because Yamaha gave him some trick parts that most of the factory racers don't get." Or worse "waaaaaaaaaaaah, tires."

Put them both on a stock Kawasaki. Then let them race.

I agree with this guy.

[xx CURVE xx]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24837155-23770,00.html

Bayliss want 1 million quid to race;


WORLD Superbike champion Troy Bayliss has put a price tag of Stg1 million ($A2.1 million) on a proposed match race against world MotoGP titleholder Valentino Rossi.

Rossi is reportedly keen on the challenge but Bayliss has been firm in his decision to walk away from motorcycle racing completely.

Bayliss retired at the end of this season after clinching his third Superbike world crown and is eyeing a possible switch to V8 Supercars.

But he has left a small window open to the Rossi suggestion and believes the Italian Yamaha star could easily be competitive on the different machine.

"I spoke with Valentino and he told me that he wants to race me really badly,'' Bayliss told motorcyclenews.com. "Yamaha have got a strong bike so it would be no problem at all for him to get up to speed.

"It wouldn't be so hard for him to be competitive on a Superbike. Valentino Rossi is Valentino Rosssi.

"(But) I'm 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.

"For me to do it I'd need something like Stg1 million and that's not going to happen.''

Rossi, who this year regained his world MotoGP title from Australian Casey Stoner, has described Superbikes as the most entertaining form of motorcycle racing.

He has since reportedly been keen to arrange a head-to-head duel with the Australian.

The race was tipped to take place during the second round of the World Superbike series in Qatar on March 14. The MotoGP season does not start until April 12 in Qatar.

But Fiat Yamaha has played down reports of the one-off clash.

"Valentino has given a couple of interviews since (the final race in) Valencia where he has spoken of his passion for World Superbikes and how much he enjoys that series,'' a spokesperson said.

"There is no doubt it would be a very exciting and epic battle but there is no plan by Yamaha to let Valentino race in World Superbikes.''

[marko138]

Go Bayliss.

[smileyman]

Rossi wants a Yammie over a Honda he gets a Yammie.
Rossi wants Bridgestone he gets Bridgestone.
Rossi wants to race WSBK? I don't really think he is serious or he would have a ride there.
Rossi wants to show up Bayliss? As if it is a challenge to beat a guy one day out of the year? Specially one not racing regularly? Nah, I don't think that's it. Sure the Italian press hurt his feelings, sure he wants to see if he can tempt Bayliss out to play, sure he likes to cause a spectacle, sure he likes to play on F1 cars, WSBKs, Rally Cars, but this is just a winter time chat up. Lull between the storms. When MotoGP testing resumes he will have his hands full again...

[PhiSig1071]

if its just for fun or charity or something, thats cool-but as far as GOAT when it comes to motorcycle racing, the fact that surtees won on four wheels shouldnt be a factor. not saying rossi over surtees, but unless u meant GOAT in motorsports period, who cares what he did on 4wheels...

If you want to talk two-wheels only, then my vote still goes to Surtees, IoM and Nurburgring, that's a whole different animal in racing. Plus, if you limit it to only two wheels then he's not the GOAT, he's the "two-wheeled GOAT".