IT was a bad weekend for Troy Bayliss at the Australian Senior Track Championship meeting held at Taree Motor Cycle Club's Old Bar Roadside Circuit.
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In the pro open final Bayliss passed the early race leader Luke Richards on the final lap but as Richards came back with a passing move on the last corner the two bikes touched and Bayliss went sprawling on the track, thankfully out of harms’ way, but out of contention. He did not complete the race and was credited as last of the 12 riders.
The MX Open final saw Bayliss take home third place, again behind Richards and Brody Nowlan.
His final shot at glory came in the pro 450 final where he found himself chasing young guns Robbie Menzies-Sargant and Jarred Brook. While trying to go around Brook, Bayliss had a big crash, all by himself, in to the fence in front of the pits enclosure.
He was transported to hospital.
As track announcer, I didn’t dare stick the microphone under his nose while he was lying on the stretcher to get any more info.
When the ambo asked Troy if he was allergic to anything he said: “yeah, pain”
Taree Motor Cycle Club president Craig Nelson reports that Troy is out of hospital but has sustained a broken collarbone and finger. He'll undergo surgery on Wednesday. He may have aggravated old back injury.
Troy’s son Ollie finished second in the support class for nine to under 13 year olds behind gun Taree rider Jack Hyde.
Ollie chased Hyde home in four of the five rounds, but fell in his other round.
Some places are better to crash than others.
Ollie, who ironically won an Australian championship before his father ever did, fell where there was plenty of run-off before remounting to pick up vital points that still enabled him to finish second overall.
In sharp contrast Troy fell and hit the very unforgiving and inflexible fence in front of the pits.
Maybe we can learn from our kids.