Its on! Bayliss Accepts Rossi Challenge for the “Duel in the Desert” @ R1-ZONE.com

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SteveWFL

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posted December 18, 2008 05:35 AM

Its on! Bayliss Accepts Rossi Challenge for the “Duel in the Desert”

Written by: Dennis Noyes
12/17/2008 - 01:04 PM

It is a promoter’s dream. And it is looking more real all the time!

“The Duel in the Desert!” February 14, 2009, Losail, Qatar! Reigning World MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi takes on reigning World Superbike Champion Troy Corser in the battle for World Roadracing Bragging Rights…and with Max Biaggi on the new Aprilia RSV4 looking for vengeance and the world’s best Superbike riders, including AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies, all in with a chance. Be there!”

Valentino Rossi was never kidding when he said he wanted to have a go at Troy Bayliss, reigning and now retired Superbike World Champion. In fact, he tried to convince Yamaha to prepare an R1 for him in time for the final race of the 2008 season at Portimao, Portugal.

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

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posted December 18, 2008 05:38 AM

Interesting that Rossi "tried to convince Yamaha to prepare an R1 for him"

Duc agreed to have Bayliss Ride the 1098
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salsa1

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posted December 18, 2008 06:28 AM

Edited By: salsa1 on 18 Dec 2008 14:33

We talking off road racing?? probably not....

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SteveWFL

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posted December 18, 2008 08:09 AM

R1 vs. Duc. (QATAR TRACK!)

From what I hear, Rossi had tried to get Yamaha to supply Bayliss an R1 so no one can point at equipment differences but it didn't work out
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SteveWFL

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posted December 18, 2008 09:08 AM

Yamaha plays down Valentino Rossi/Troy Bayliss WSB scrap

By Matthew Birt
MotoGP

Yamaha has again played down persistent reports linking star rider Valentino Rossi with a sensational one-off World Superbike clash against Troy Bayliss.

Ever since Rossi claimed that World Superbikes was the most entertaining form of motorcycle racing at the last race of the MotoGP season in Valencia, the Italian has been linked with a head-to-head against triple WSB champion Bayliss.

Reports in Europe suggest six-times MotoGP world champion Rossi has finalised a deal with Yamaha to race Aussie Bayliss in the second round of the 2009 WSB series in Qatar on March 14

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/December/15-21/dec1708-yamaha-play-down-rossi-bayliss-scrap/?R=EPI-104990
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TedG

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posted December 18, 2008 09:14 AM

I saw this on motogp.com and was going to post but you beat me to it.
This kind of stuff makes roadracing interesting. Rossi knows he is at a disadvantage and still does things to light some fires. And Bayliss is sounding like a good sport.
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K Bryant

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posted December 18, 2008 09:16 AM

He already had a "go at Troy" - Valencia in '06 with the best equipment in Racing.

Fantastic to speculate, but I don't see Valentino putting it to Troy on a Superbike. Hard to believe this deal would happen. Troy has nothing left to prove. Hopefully he'll stay retired and enjoy family life and let everyone else simply speculate on "what if"....

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SteveWFL

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posted December 18, 2008 09:18 AM

quote:
He already had a "go at Troy" - Valencia in '06 with the best equipment in Racing.

Fantastic to speculate, but I don't see Valentino putting it to Troy on a Superbike. Hard to believe this deal would happen. Troy has nothing left to prove. Hopefully he'll stay retired and enjoy family life and let everyone else simply speculate on "what if"....

+1

I think it may be more about publicity than racing, the topic is getting a truckload of attention here in our local community... but its an effective gig and MotoGP and several others are reporting it may happen which would be HUGE and good for the sport
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flite leader

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posted December 18, 2008 10:34 AM

actually thats acting like a punk

bayliss has a solid history behind him & is well refarded by his peers

no doubt rossi is very good but each rider usually is in his era

many will try to compare the best across eras

yet that is virtually impossible...........................far tooooo many variables

if they run so be it but it will prove nothing
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SteveWFL

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posted December 18, 2008 11:46 AM

Bayliss has a solid history!? What about Rossi

But all this hype is great for the industry
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thebigboy14

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posted December 18, 2008 11:51 AM

quote:
actually thats acting like a punk

bayliss has a solid history behind him & is well refarded by his peers

no doubt rossi is very good but each rider usually is in his era

many will try to compare the best across eras

yet that is virtually impossible...........................far tooooo many variables

if they run so be it but it will prove nothing

I beg to differ. I feel like what we have here are 2 riders at the top of the sport whom have been champions on several different bikes and classes. Why not see them have a go. I dont feel its a "punk" move to want to have a race with 2 battle tested and approved champions. Hell what is racing other than testing your skill against the best the world has to offer.
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K Bryant

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posted December 18, 2008 12:21 PM

Essentially, they are both from the same era (though Bayliss is about 9 years older).

If you broke it down by classes, then Rossi is hands-down the best of the current GP era.

For World Superbike, that's a little tougher (but not much) - Bayliss, Toseland, Edwards, (Fogerty & Kosinski are probably considered a different era). Then all the great ones to not have won a championship; Haga, Biaggi, Corser (lately), etc.. Bayliss, especially the last few years has taken on the strongest group of the most evenly matched competitors and bikes to date. In the end, he still stands on top. I would cast my vote for Bayliss.

flite leader

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posted December 18, 2008 01:15 PM

never said rossi wasnt good

but they arent from the same era

no less why would anyone put creedence to a "grudge"

the press made hayden...... biaggi...... schwantz & now rossi into belligerant punks

if you were to get to know them they are no where close

i knew kevin from back in the day
not a mean bone in his body

if you talk about accomplishments
agostini...........lawson..........spencer never had personal vendettas

really not the true spirit of competition
no where is it engraved you have to dislike your competitors

just compete
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K Bryant

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posted December 18, 2008 01:48 PM

Edited By: K Bryant on 18 Dec 2008 22:08

How do you figure Bayliss and Rossi are not from the same era ? Though Troy is older, he simply started later. But I believe they both started road racing in 1992. Can't get much closer to the same era than that

Then they had 3 years of heads-up Motogp in '03, 04, 05. Then the awesome one-off ride/win in '06.

It would be wonderful to see Rossi do a one-off ride in World Superbike, simply to see his magic in that class. Hopefully it may happen some day before he retires.

TedG

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posted December 18, 2008 05:06 PM

Like I said, I would think that Rossi would be at a disadvantage. But maybe not. If Bayliss hasn't been on the track for a while, they both would have to get used to a new bike, Rossi just might be able to adapt quicker then he is at an advantage.
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SteveWFL

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posted December 18, 2008 07:10 PM

Rossi wanted everything even all the way down to the bike and tires so the tit-for-tat BS would be eliminated

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smokehouse4444

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posted December 19, 2008 09:11 AM

I think that one race won't decide much. Yes, Bayliss got him at Valencia in '06. But the "who is best" question was answered for me a long time ago, when they went head to head for three seasons. The results?
2003: #1 Rossi 357 pts
#6 Bayliss 128 pts
2004: #1 Rossi 304 pts
#14 Bayliss 71 pts
(This after Rossi jumped from at the time all-powerful Honda to at the time fairly
crappy Yamaha)
2005: #1 Rossi 367 pts
#15 Bayliss 54 pts

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SteveWFL

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posted December 30, 2008 10:45 PM

Bayliss would need $1.5M to face Rossi-

http://www.motorcycle.com/news/bayliss-would-need-15m-to-face-rossi-87748.html
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TedG

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posted December 31, 2008 08:30 AM

Of course he would want that much. Because it would have to be enough to take a reversal of the going out on top and he knows it. His last sentence said it all. Valentino Rossi if Valentino Rossi.
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K Bryant

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posted December 31, 2008 01:49 PM

Oh man... Now the problem with that quote from Troy, is that some promoter and/or sponser will try and put that together. A price has been set to motivate Troy. I actually think this may have a chance to be put together or at least keep the hype alive.

SteveWFL

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posted December 31, 2008 01:51 PM

quote:
Oh man... Now the problem with that quote from Troy, is that some promoter and/or sponser will try and put that together. A price has been set to motivate Troy. I actually think this may have a chance to be put together or at least keep the hype alive.

+1

someone will be taking a collection