But his confidence certainly hasn't been dented.

Bayliss, a three-times winner of the World Superbike championship, will arrive in Taree today. This year has had to recover from a broken leg sustained while racing in the AMA series in America and then a broken collarbone he suffered while practising with his son, Ollie.

"Minor setbacks,'' Bayliss said yesterday from the Gold Coast.

"You have to crack a few eggs to make an omelete.''

Bayliss won three events at the Australian dirt track championships held at Taree last year. However, injury meant he wasn't able to defend the titles this year at Gunnedah and that's made him even more determined for a good showing this weekend.

"I haven't raced for about 10 weeks,'' he said.

"But I know the Taree track pretty well so I don't think that'll matter too much. I'm back training now, I'm 100 per cent fit and I'm ready to go.''

Bayliss will contest the three main races this weekend - the 450 open, the MX open and the pro open.

While he says he's 'quietly confident' of success, Bayliss appreciates there will be some tough racing.

He believes Luke Richards, Marty McNamarra and Michael Kirkness will be his main rivals.

"Mick's been racing really well in America so he's certainly in form,'' he said.

"But there's going to be some top riders involved. I'm really looking forward to it.''

Bayliss said it will be a rushed trip to his old home town this weekend.

On Monday he jets out to America to race in the AMA series.

"We'll leave Taree on Sunday afternoon and head home and fly out from Brisbane on Monday,'' he said.

Bayliss will be racing in Springfield and not the track in Sacramento where he came to grief earlier in the year.

He believes he has some unfinished business in the series and is aiming to achieve a satisfying result.

"I'm taking Ollie with me. He can get to see a bit of America and race in Kentucky,'' Bayliss said.

His next start in Taree will be the Troy Bayliss Classic to be held next January.

TAREE Motor Cycle Club president Craig Nelson rates Kempsey rider Jarryd Oram as a dark horse for major honours at this weekend's Australian senior championships to be raced at the Old Bar Roadside Circuit.

The championships will start tomorrow with the main program to be decided on Sunday.

Oram has been a regular competitor at the Old Bar track in recent years. He'll enter the MX open, the pro 450 and the pro open along with 250cc events this weekend.

"Jarryd was third in the Troy Bayliss Classic in 2013 and he has form at our track,'' Mr Nelson said.

"He's very quick.''

Around 100 riders will contest the championship.

"That's the thing with an Australian title - it scares a lot of people away, so you only get the very best,'' Mr Nelson said.

"We'll have 100 quality riders in action here. There's going to be some great racing.''

Club member Michael Kirkness, winner of the original Troy Bayliss Classic, has just returned from a successful stint racing in the AMA series in America and is another sure to come into contention.

"Michael didn't have the machinery that they do over there but he was reguarly geting top five and 10 placings,'' Mr Nelson said.

"So he's certainly in top form.''

Kirkness will also chase honours in all the major races.

Luke Richards, who has more than 30 Australian championships to his credit, is another who is certain to come be thereabouts along with Marty McNamara.

"Marty and Luke are good mates and they push each other in racing,'' Mr Nelson said.

Veteran Taree rider Scott Boyd will team with Shane Van-Grinneken in the sidecars.

Van-Grinneken is a former Australian champion and the pair have produced some impressive times in practice sessions.

"Scott is pretty confident that they're going to go well,'' Mr Nelson said.

Racing will start at 10am on both days, with the finals to be decided on Sunday.

Mr Nelson said the track is in great condition for the championships, which will also be the first test for the newly installed PA system.

"Providing the weather says good I'm confident we'll get about 1000 people there on both days,'' Mr Nelson added.