Sources on the scene say that former World Superbike champion and current Marlboro Ducati rider Troy Bayliss has been informed by Ducati Corse that he will not be a part of their 2005 MotoGP team. Rumors to this effect have been swirling for more than a month, with Bayliss stating to the press that he was preparing for "a kick in the teeth" from Ducati.

Bayliss did a lot to save Ducati's bacon after Carl Fogarty was injured in 2000 and he is by far the most popular rider at Ducati. But in the big money, big stakes game that is modern GP racing, a season of bad results on the final year of your contract makes it difficult to keep your job. Bayliss has been adamant that there is a flaw in the 2004 Ducati MotoGP bike, and regardless what opinion one has about the machine, a string of crashes this season didn't help Bayliss' confidence.

It's not all bad. Bayliss certainly has a season or three of racing left in him and has some bright prospects. He could have the Corse Ducati WSC ride if he desires, and probably even a Suzuki/Kawasaki/Yamaha MGP ride under the right circumstances.

Of course, our black as coal Yankee hearts want to see him back here in America. Now wouldn't that make things interesting? He did, of course, qualify on the pole for the last AMA Superbike race he entered ...