World Superbike News

‘Nitro’ Nori To Replace Bayliss At Ducati Xerox For WSB 2009

Joy Ryder - Wednesday 15.10.08, 15:03pm

Having secured the World Superbike title in the penultimate round, three time champion Troy Bayliss may be forgiven for having any doubts about his decision to retire from the sport. None the less the much loved racer will stick to his guns and will end his career in style, with the Ducati Xerox team.

In the latest World Superbike news Ducati Xerox have announced that Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga will replace Troy Bayliss for next season and will partner Michel Fabrizio, who earns a contract for his second consecutive season with the team.

Ducati boss Davide Tradozzi has been pondering the question of who to replace Bayliss with for most of this season, with the popular Australian rider Chris Vermuelen a favourite early on. But Vermuelen’s water tight contract at Suzuki has led to much soul searching for the Ducati team and Haga will be considered by WSB fans as a popular choice.

‘Nitro’ Nori has entertained motor cycle racing fans for many years, at 33 years old it is possible that he will be simply keeping the seat warm for the inevitable arrival of Vermuelen in the future, but that will be the last thing on Haga’s mind.

When it comes to entertainment and edge of the seat racing, Haga has proved to be among the strongest and best loved Superbike riders ever. Tardozzi see’s the Japanese rider as a talented and courageous man, who never gives up, showing all the right virtues to race for Ducati and the credentials to fill the place that Troy Bayliss vacates.

Surprisingly Haga has never won the World Superbike title although he sits in third position on the all time WBSK win list, a position that he currently shares with Troy Corser. He is also likely to finish this season as runner up to Troy Bayliss after the final round of the series at Portugal this weekend.

Haga has twice finished runner up for the title, in 2000 and 2007 and will be looking for an improvement in his World Superbike results when he takes up his mantle at Ducati for next season. The title would be a fitting finale to Noriyuki Haga’s career and something which he richly deserves in return for the entertainment that he has given the fans for so many years.