Jaws said:
I like Troy Bayliss.. I think his riding is exciting, and every time he has been interviewed he came across as a genuinely likely bloke on a mission.. A real tryer..
But................
I think unless he has been popping skill pills all winter and massively upped his game, he will not be a champion..
He is simply outclassed I am sorry to say.
And while Honda may well give him the right tool, it was proven once and for all last year that it is FAR from being all about the bike.
True He is a nice guy; true he will never be a Mick Doohan or the freaky kid Rossi, :-:
But He never was give a fighting chance to prove him self @ the GP level.
(Maybe that?s the problem mate; they say ?Nice Guys Come Last?) :dunno:
\This is in his words John, from my favorite Oz mag AMCN..
Bayliss may have fallen on his feet after his surprise dismissal from Ducati, landing a Honda ride with the respected Camet Pons Honda squad, but he knows there's still plenty of work to do.
AMCN caught up with the Taree (NSW) rider at the Sepang MotoGP tests to discover the Honda and Ducati are chalk and cheese, but Bayliss is ready for a serious tilt at the title.
AMCN: The Sepang test was the first for 2005. How did it go for you? TB: The first two days I really struggled, the bike felt different
to the one from the Jerez test last November. The first day I did a lot of laps and just ran around and didn't go anywhere. The second day I went one second faster, but it was still not good - everyone else was really up to speed by then.
But on the final day I did some good times on race tyres, a 2m 02.6s. I did two long runs on the final afternoon, two ten-lap runs, and went faster than I've ever done
on a race tyre at Sepang. Now I'm looking forward to coming back here (Sepang) for the next test. I'll have a new bike although it won't be much different, but at least I will have a good base setting.
What was the difference with your Honda at Sepang compared to the RCV at the Jerez test last November?
The bike I had in Jerez was basically the same frame and suspension, but the engine I had at the Jerez test was an earlier engine spec, probably early 2004, and it was quite a bit down on power to the motor at the Sepang test.
The Jerez motor was really smooth and I enjoyed riding it.
How do you feel on the Honda now, after all those years on Ducati? Pretty good, but there's a few things to work on. The clutch is one -you've got to use the clutch on the Honda and it's like going back to school again. On the Ducati I only
used the clutch to leave the pits -you didn't need to use the clutch, even for downshifts.
On the Honda you have work the clutch all the way into the corner with the brake. The Honda is a totally different bike to ride.
The frontal area is totally different when you sit on the bike. It's like on a Playstation when you change modes-on the Ducati you see all the bike in front of you, on the Honda you don't see the bike, just the track.
This was a bit of a shakedown really and we've got a few tests before the first GP although it seems everyone is getting pretty excited early- it's still a long way to go.
You have been with the Camel Honda Pons team for two months now. Any thoughts on the switch from Ducati at the end of 2004 after so long - seven seasons - with Ducati?
Well, that decision to leave Ducati was made for me, but I'm really
happy this deal came up because I fell on my feet. The Honda is a great bike and this is a great team and, in the end, I'm happier.
I'm feeling good about being with Honda, although I knew the Ducati would be strong this year because they were going to fix the problems from last season. And it seems like the switch to Bridgestones, which was a bit of surprise to everyone, seems to be working quite well for them at the moment. It will interesting to see how they go.
Any comment on the difference between Honda and a Ducati which was always noted for its top speed? Both bikes have got their advantages and disadvantages, but I don't want to say too much. There are
a few things I would like to take from both bikes and put together into one.
My bike might be the fastest bike out there but you don't necessarily need top speed, you need set-up before you need the fastest bike. Michael Scott
@ the end of the day mate who really care?s he still make?s more Money then me!! :cry:
:} Just think, all that money into R&D; wasted :B :}
