Two of Australia’s best motor racers have given the new Queensland Raceway surface a true baptism of fire.
Three-time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss took Red Bull F1 ace Mark Webber for a blast around the paperclip on the back of Ducati motorcycle.
The track which underwent a $1.2 million total re-surface in last October and will not have V8 cars back on track until March while it cures. However, with light running now allowed it was more than adequate for the super-fast pillion ride for two of the world’s greatest racers.
“Some things need doing,” said Webber via Twitter.
“Thanks to Troy. Great day mate.”
Webber and Bayliss also performed some solo laps and gave the new track surface the thumbs up.
“As expected, you were a top pillion and ripped it up solo as well,” said Bayliss via Twitter.
“Track is nice; boys on the Moto will be happy, lap records will fall.”
Bayliss was hosting a group of athletes and other motorcycle enthusiasts on the day, including ironman, adventure sport champion and part-time racer Guy Andrews.
In other motorcycle news US MotoGP rider Nicky Hayden is expected to miss early season testing after crashing while riding in his home state of Kentucky.
Hayden collided with another rider and landed on his shoulder, breaking his left scapula and fracturing two ribs on a private test track. He was riding for the first time since breaking his wrist at the Valencia Grand Prix in November.
He is now in doubt for the first official MotoGP test of 2012 on January 31 at Sepang in Malaysia.
“I came up behind another rider, and he went to move out of the way,” said Hayden.
“I wasn’t going that fast, but he clipped my front wheel and I went down and landed pretty hard on my left shoulder, and that was it.
“It’s disappointing, but there’s nothing to do about it but heal quickly. Anyway, this doesn’t change my expectations for 2012 which, fortunately, is just around the corner.”
