Ducati 1098R Bayliss Limited Edition

Troy Bayliss is a Ducati legend. In celebration of his victory in the 2008 World Superbike Championship aboard the 1098 R, and the end of a career that proudly claims three World Championships aboard three generations of Ducati Superbike, the factory have built a 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition.

Enjoying exactly the same high specification as the standard 'R' model, the 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition has a special colour scheme designed by Aldo Drudi. The livery, which was used during Troy's final race at Portimao in Portugal, incorporates the key colours of his success. Sporting the famous number '21' on the pearl white nose and side-fairing number plates, the red and white paint scheme uses the dark blue background of the Australian national flag to blend beautifully along the side of the bodywork and into the unpainted carbon fibre stripe along the seat unit. This attention to fine detail is also evident in features like the carbon lower-fairing finished in red, except for aerodynamic recess for the side-stand, which remains natural carbon fibre. A subtle '1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition' graphic on the tail fairing leaves no doubt as to what this magnificent bike is.

The striking design contrasts perfectly against the 5-spoke wheels finished in matte black and additional special features like the carbon fibre heat shield on the exhaust.

The 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition will be limited to only 500 units and comes with a numbered plaque on the top fork clamp, indicating exactly where in the limited edition the motorcycle was built. The number also corresponds to a numbered commemorative desk-top plaque, beautifully encased for safe keeping and bearing the engraved signatures of Ducati Motor Holding CEO Gabriele Del Torchio and Ducati Corse triple World Superbike Champion, Troy Bayliss.

In addition, the model will be supplied with a full racing exhaust system including 102dB carbon fibre mufflers by Termignoni (strictly for track use only), a dedicated ECU, branded bike cover and rear paddock stand.

What better way to mark the incredible career of Troy Bayliss than by Ducati building the 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition.

Troy Bayliss is a Ducati legend. His racing career with Ducati has taken him from amateur obscurity to professional stardom, winning three World Championships on three different generations of Superbike. His 'never-give-up' style fight to the top, powered by Ducati's passion for victory have been food and drink to 'Ducatisti' all over the world.

Arriving in Europe in 1998, Troy immediately found his way by winning the 1999 British Superbike Championship aboard a Ducati 996. His success took him to the AMA series for Ducati in the US, but an early season call-up from the factory to replace the injured Carl Fogarty in World Superbike brought him back across the Atlantic to Europe. It only took a few races before Troy clinched his first world level race win at Hockenheim aboard the 996 R. More of the same performances that year secured the support of thousands of fans, scored him 6th in the World Championship and helped Ducati lift the Manufacturers' title.

2001 was the year that Bayliss had been working for. His 996 R Ducati took him all the way to the top, clinching his first World Superbike Championship title and another Manufacturers' title for Ducati. If 2001 had been the year that proved Troy 'the rider' to Ducati, then 2002 would be the year that proved Troy 'the sportsman' to his fans. A tough and hard-fought season on the 998 R came down to the wire at the final race in Imola. His two 2nd place finishes that weekend were dubbed 'the Superbike races of all time', but it was the way in which he conceded the title and stepped up the podium with a smile on his face that won the hearts of his fans.

For 2003 Troy moved across to Ducati's new MotoGP project aboard the Desmosedici. It may have been his first year on the Grand Prix scene, but his rookie status didn't stop him scoring three podiums and closing the season an incredible 6th in the World Championship. 2004 proved considerably harder, however, and the Australian struggled to 14th in the series.

After a year away from Ducati, Troy returned to the Ducati Superbike team in 2006, hungry to fight his way back to the top and prove that he was still champion material. He did just that. His first year aboard the Ducati 999 R secured him his second World Superbike Championship and returned the Manufacturers' title to Ducati. At the end of the 2006 season he also got the chance to prove that he could win at MotoGP level. Drafted in as a last-minute replacement to the injured Sete Gibernau, Troy qualified the Desmosedici GP6 on the front row of the grid at the Valencia Grand Prix and powered to a convincing, spectacular and popular victory.

n 2007 Troy struggled against injuries as he rode the now ageing 999 R to its absolute limit. Disappointed with finishing 4th in the World Superbike Championship and now considering retirement, the one thing that kept Troy motivated was the imminent arrival of the 1098 R.

With a capacity of 1198cc, in accordance with new Superbike regulations, Troy's 2008 bike powered him back to the top where he belonged. Securing both the Riders' and Manufacturers' titles in Magny-Cours with just one race left on the calendar, Troy achieved his goal and completed a dream career that had seen him win World Championships on three generations of Ducati Superbikes — 996 R, 999

R and 1098 R.

Throughout the year, Troy worked non-stop to develop, improve and perfect the 1098 R ready for his successor and in order that the 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R would be the bikes that carried the most racing technology through to production. In the final race of his career in Portugal, Troy rode the 1098 R in a special celebratory colour scheme. Ducati will now build a 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition bearing that same livery... the ultimate thank you for an incredible career.