Oli Bayliss Finishes Season Finale World Supersport Race on a High
Oli Bayliss (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished out his 2022 World Supersport season in the best possible way, crossing the line in his final race of the year with his best result of 8th. In just his first year as a full-time World Supersport rider with the BARNI Spark Racing Team, Bayliss saw out the season in 16th position overall with 65 points, just 1 point shy of finishing the 2022 World Supersport Championship in the top 15.
Bayliss kicked off his inaugural full-time FIM World Supersport Campaign in April of this year, for the Pirelli Aragon Round, finishing Race 1 in 21st position and Race 2 in 19th. There was no doubt this season for the 19-year-old Queenslander would be a year of learning, and looking at the progress of Bayliss throughout the year, he did exactly that. Bayliss came into the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round with confidence, but of course conditions throughout the weekend made his debut home round as a full-time World Supersport competitor the most challenging yet. Despite all weather conditions being thrown at him, Bayliss came home in his final Race of the 2022 season with his best result of the year in 8th place on the Barni Spark Racing Team’s Ducati Panigale V2.
“It was definitely a difficult weekend. To be honest it wasn’t the weather I was expected at all. Heading into this round I had a few riders asking me how the weather would be at Phillip Island in November. You know I said it’s okay you know, November you think it will be a bit sunny and warm. I think this is one of the worse weather pattens we have had at a WorldSBK race meeting at Phillip Island so it was hard.”
“The weather definitely made it quite difficult. On Friday we showed that we were quick in the dry. However, yesterday we struggled a bit in the wet. I only got one lap in qualifying and I messed my one and only lap.”
“In terms of Race 2 today, I got one of the worse starts in my life. I managed to gain some positions back. I think if I got a better start and a better qualifying position I could have possibly stayed with the front group.
But overall, it has been a good day. Eighth place is ok. In saying that, as a racer you always expect more of yourself and overall, it has been a tough year. But at the same time, it has been a big learning year.”
“To be able to be on the back of some of the guys we were racing with today who have probably been here more times than I have was a good way to end the year. We understood going into my home round it wasn’t going to be easy. You still have to put in as much work as any other round.”
“In the end, I’m happy with eighth place. More importantly I’m happy to finish the weekend with a good result. However, you’re always looking for that little bit more.”
“Thanks to everyone for coming to Phillip Island this weekend. It was good to put on half a show for everyone today. I hope everyone enjoyed today the whole weekend. I can’t wait to return to the Island in February in 2023 for round one of the WorldSBK Championship. Be sure to head back here where hopefully I can do a better result for everyone.”
