Image: Russell Colvin.

Three-time world superbike champion Troy Bayliss says he owes his incredible performance in yesterday’s fourth round of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) to his supporters and the DesmoSport Ducati crew.

Bayliss, who showed blistering pace all weekend and claimed pole position, charged to victory in race one following a thrilling battle with Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing), while a lateissue in the final 17-lap affair saw him drop out of the lead in the dying stages, salvaging seventh for second overall.

“I owe that to our team and all of our sponsors at DesmoSport Ducati!” Bayliss beamed post-race. “It was a big call bringing an old fella on-board, but between our guys – Ben Henry, Paul Free and Byron Draper at Ohlins – they’ve built a lovely bike for me to ride and it’s so fun to ride it like that.

“Race two, it was positive to lead laps in the afternoon again, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be in the end. We still managed to score points though, which was good enough for second overall, and that’s a pretty solid result for us. Now I’m really looking forward to the next round and the rest of the season!”

The 49-year-old has now been promoted to third in the championship standings as the ASBK contingent heads to Morgan Park in Queensland on 17-19 August for the fifth stop of the series.