Troy Bayliss has described wining his own Tory Bayliss Classic event as feeling like a ‘fourth world title’ with the calibre of international riders at the Taree-based event this weekend.
Bayliss claimed the second annual Troy Bayliss Cup ahead of Aussie ace Troy Herfoss and 2013 Cup winner Michael Kirkness.
The 21-lap lap final saw Bayliss pick up the holeshot with American flat-track superstar Sammy Halbert right on the Aussie’s tail until a fall mid-race saw Bayliss hammer to the end to win by a considerable margin.
“It feels like a fourth world title to be able to win my own event against some of the best riders in the world both past and present,” said Bayliss.
“I have to thank everyone for coming out and supporting the event event. All the fans, the volunteers and the riders who’ve come from all over the world to be part of such a great day.”
Earlier Bayliss had crashed out of the all-new Americana style race which saw a three rider knock-out system that ended with a race-off between Americans Sammy Halbert and Henry Wiles and Goldburn’s Herfoss.
Herfoss jumped the gates strong but was pressured all the way by the Americans who eventually muscled him out of the race on the penultimate lap, much to the disgust of Herfoss, with Halbert taking the spoils.
For the first time in the Troy Bayliss Classic an open class for women was run with Jess Shepard taking overall victory ahead of Australian Xgames and AMA rider Meghan Rutledge.
In the Legends class three times World Speedway Champion Jason Crump was crowned victor after an impressive performance all day which included several heat wins.
Up and coming World Speedway star Darcy Ward was finally getting a handle on things as the sun fell on Old Bar but a disastrous fall into the wall at the end of the back straight saw the rider down and out as he was taken away by the Racesafe crew.
Fortunately for Ward, who kicks off his World Speedway campaign in New Zealand in April, the injuries sustained were only minor.
Japanese sensation Masatosahi Ohmari put on a spectacular display for fans at the Taree Motorcycle Club despite not qualifying for the final.
Ohmari’s spectacular day ended when he crashed his Yamaha over the finish line of his ‘Superpole’ lap but fortunately walked away unscathed.
Other standouts to make the final were Chris Vermeulen, Paul Caslick and Jack Miller however Gary McCoy, Stephen Gall, Shayne King, Wayne Maxwell and Jeff Leisk all failed to set a ‘Superpole’ lap within the top-12, which saw them unable to qualify for the main event.
