Oli Bayliss lands factory Ducati Panigale V2 2022 WorldSSP seat

Oli Bayliss, son of three-time WorldSBK Champion Troy Bayliss, will make his full international debut next season after landing the factory-backed Barni Ducati seat for the 2022 WorldSSP Championship.

The 18-year old will follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Ducati fold, 14 years after Troy retired in the wake of clinching his third WorldSBK title in 2008.

He will be paired alongside Moto2 rider Niccolo Bulega to front Ducati’s renewed efforts in the WorldSSP class, which has been overhauled for 2022 to allow sportsbikes with larger engines to compete.

This change makes the Ducati Panigale V2 eligible to race, with the Italian manufacturer entrusting its efforts to the Barni Racing team.

“I’m really happy to announce that I will be racing for Barni Racing Team in the World Supersport Championship on the Ducati Panigale V2. I’ve finished my school program, which means I can now put my focus completely on racing motorbikes, training and only that.”

Helping to make his son a race winner on a Panigale V4 in the Australian Superbike Championship, Troy Bayliss - a 52-time WorldSBK race winner - is thrilled to see his son moving up to the world stage.

“Oli has been brought up around racing, 2021 has been his first year on Ducati V4 R in the ASBK and taking the win in Darwin earlier this year came sooner than we thought, I think the move to Barni Racing Team is a great opportunity, I hope he enjoys the V-twin as much as I did.”