Entering his second year in the Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP), Oli Bayliss joins the D34G Racing team to continue his charge towards the front onboard the Ducati Panigale V2. With the opening round of 2023 at Phillip Island drawing closer, the talented Australian shares his Fast Thoughts on the new team, testing, racing at home and even a possible Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) appearance at The Bend later this year with DesmoSport Ducati.

Image: Supplied.

The ride coming together with D34G…

We had a not-so-bad year last year, we knew it was going to be difficult with, you know, the first year racing in the world championship, but we made a lot of progress throughout the year. It was definitely a difficult year with the team [Barni Racing], they were great guys but we just, pretty much from halfway through the year… it was never really on my mind that I was going to leave Barni, but I was always chatting with the Giugliano team – not about racing with them, just chatting. Then yeah anyway, we finished the year off, I felt comfortable with the Giugliano team, I thought we’ll see what their plans are for next year and here we are.

First test this year at Portimao…

We just finished the first test, actually – it didn’t look so good – being in a pretty good position. We went fast on an old tyre, and unfortunately at the end of the second day we struggled a bit with the new tyres. It was the first test with the team, we went faster than we did in qualifying in the race last year, so I think honestly we can have a pretty good year.

Differences in the infrastructure of D34G compared to Barni…

Not really, to be honest. The crew chief Giovanni [Crupi], he’s really good, I worked with him a lot last year as well. Nothing is really too different, the guys speak a lot of English which is really good, and I am just excited to get cracking with this year. I think that I am in a very good team, [Davide] Giugliano has a lot of experience, Giovanni has a lot of experience so I think I am in a good position.

Image: Supplied.

Taking the next step with your second year in WorldSSP…

For sure, it’s still going to be a learning year. So many of the guys we are racing against have been racing on these tracks since they were eight-years-old. I think if we could finish most of the races with our best finish last year, so in the top six or top eight, then I think the team will be happy and I will be happy. I think if I can finish there, it will put us in a good position.

First round this year being at Phillip Island…

It will be a lot different to last year with Phillip Island being the last round. Here being the first round, if I can have a good result, which I think if there is anywhere I can have a good result it should be Phillip Island, but if we can start off the year with some good results it will give me some confidence for the rest of the year – which I also think I was lacking a little bit last year. Okay, maybe it wouldn’t have made me win races but it could have helped me in some situations.

Cameo DesmoSport Ducat appearance at The Bend…

I’ve thought about it, for sure. I think last year, it would have been difficult because it was the week after Phillip Island, and I didn’t really want to go in there with no Superbike riding. I mean I have ridden a Superbike two years ago, but it makes it difficult because you have to change your style so much and I didn’t want it to impact, say this year on a 600. I think with how this year is going, I think I can – and with how the calendar is – I might be able to speak with Benny [Ben Henry] and the DesmoSport Ducati team and see if I can have a couple of test days on the bike and be alongside Broc [Pearson]. It’s definitely… we have thought about it, last year it was going to be difficult and I kind of just said nah, I don’t really want to do it, I just want to focus on my 600. But yeah, I think we have definitely got the chance to do it, I’ll speak with dad, I’ll speak with Benny and see what we can come up with. It’s not 100 percent off the cards.