According to reports in Europe, the second round of the 2009 World Superbike Series' season in Qatar could play host to a race in which MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi would ride a WSBK-spec Yamaha R1, while retired WSBK champion Troy Bayliss would ride his Ducati Xerox for one round.

The match up is thought to have been born out of Rossi's claims that WSBK provides more enjoyable racing than MotoGP, something that is set to be reinforced in 2009 by the fact that 31 riders are already confirmed to the Superbike grid, compared to 19 for MotoGP.

There has been no confirmation from either rider or team but it would seem unlikely that the MotoGP management would allow its champion to go race in another series that is a competitor.


Photo Credit : Bridgestone