Troy Bayliss suffers bike crash in Monte Carlo

© Ducati Corse. Series leader Troy Bayliss, who was due to arrive in Assen yesterday for the Dutch Round of the championship, suffered a major scare last wednesday when he crashed on his bicycle while training in Monte Carlo, and came away with cuts and grazes and a sore back in the process.

The Australian was out doing his regular cycling session with his personal trainer when he hit a manhole on a downhill stretch and was thrown off the bike, sliding down the road and narrowly being missed by following cars.

Troy, whose flight to the Netherlands was also delayed yesterday, arrived in the circuit later in the evening. He will have a check-up at the Clinica Mobile but will be fit to race this weekend.

© Ducati Corse. Troy took wins here in both 2007 and 2006 but has very mixed emotions regarding the historic Dutch TT Circuit: "Assen - it's a track where I've had my moments, and I like, love or hate it depending on the season! I've won and lost championships as a result of how I've gone here in the past. I hope, with it being my last year riding in World Superbikes, that this is one of those times that I come away loving it!

During the race you can generally afford to sit back and wait a bit at this track but, having said that, it depends on the day, how everyone is riding, and on the unpredictable weather conditions. It's also a track where tyre issues come into play. I would like the overall F08 package to work a bit better than it did in Valencia, as although that weekend we were able to get stronger each day, I was never totally comfortable." (Ducati Corse)