Oliver Bayliss is considering a move to the BSB – to follow in his father Troy’s footsteps?

Troy Bayliss is an icon of the Superbike World Championship: he was crowned champion three times and won 52 races, back when there were still two races per round rather than the three held today. Following his title win in the British Superbike Championship in 1999, Ducati signed him in 2000 as a replacement for the injured Carl Fogarty – marking the start of his impressive international career.

His son Oli, born on 20 September 2003 in Monaco and the spitting image of his father, grew up with motor racing and joined the World Supersport Championship in 2022. After three seasons with Ducati teams, he moved to Triumph in 2025 and achieved his best career results this year, finishing third at Phillip Island and at Brüx (Most). In the overall standings, Bayliss finished 16th, 21st, 14th and 14th; at the summer break, he is 13th in the World Championship standings. His talent is undisputed, and an upward trend is evident. However, he has not yet managed to step out of his famous father’s shadow.

Although Troy has been pulling a few strings behind the scenes in recent years, he has largely kept out of day-to-day operations. That has changed in recent weeks; he is once again taking the junior under his wing.

Bayliss wants to ride in Superbike

Oli Bayliss wants to ride in Superbike in 2027, but has no opportunity to do so in the World Championship. Troy’s idea: to take the detour via the BSB, win the title there and then move up to the Superbike World Championship – with Ducati, of course.

It is becoming apparent that the Triumph works team will have to look for two new riders for the Supersport World Championship in 2027, as they will not be continuing with Tom Booth-Amos, currently fifth in the World Championship, and Bayliss is also on his way out.

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For Bayliss, there is another reason besides his desire to ride a larger bike: as the number two rider at Triumph, he has to contribute to the budget, whereas in the BSB he can earn money.

There are strong indications that Bayliss will join David Williams’ Ducati team, Nitrous Competition, for whom Kyle Ryde and Glenn Irwin are racing this year and who currently occupy first and ninth place in the overall standings.

BSB promoter Stuart Higgs is keen to bring the Bayliss name into his championship. Insiders are betting that – if necessary – he will do his bit to ensure the Ducati deal with Oli goes ahead.

Superbike-Ikone Troy Bayliss

Foto: gold & goose