Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss has fulfilled his career goal of winning three World Superbike titles on three different types of bike and now wants to go out with a bang at the final Portimao round next month.

Aussie Bayliss, who took titles on the 998, 999 and 1098, lifted the 2008 championship after race one at Magny Cours this morning, following his replacement at Ducati Noriyuki Haga home.

"I’m extremely happy to have won my third world championship and to be able to say I have won on three different generations of the Ducati Superbike," said Bayliss.

"I want to thank the entire team who have worked so hard and put a lot of trust in me. Together we have done a great job this season. These last years with Ducati, since 2000, have been a great experience for me. This whole year has been up and done, with several riders remaining consistently fast.

"From half way through the season we became more confident and so there was a lot of pressure but I’ve done what I set out to do, I really wanted to win on the three different Ducati Superbikes.

"It’s just a fantastic feeling. Now I have secured the title, I’m looking forward to enjoying the last round at the brand new track of Portimao, where I’m hoping I can finish the season on a high!"

With a total of 410 championship points, and having achieved nine race wins and sixteen podium finishes during the season, the Australian legend Bayliss has ridden the Ducati 1098 F08 factory machine into the record books, a winning bike in its debut season, a feat previously accomplished by Carl Fogarty with the 916 in 1994, and with the 996 in 1998 and by Neil Hodgson in 2003 with the 999.

Todays’ results also mean that Ducati has secured the manufacturer’s title, for the fifteenth time since the championship began in 1988. This means that in the last eighteen years, the Borgo-Panigale based firm has dominated the World Superbike series, to take the constructor’s title home on all but three occasions.

Filippo Preziosi, General Director of Ducati Corse, said: "Today Troy has given Ducati Corse an unforgettable gift, having now won the World Superbike Championship on three different bikes - the 998, 999 and 1098.

"On behalf of everybody in Ducati Corse I send a warm embrace to a rider that will remain forever in our hearts. My compliments also go to Davide (Tardozzi), to Ernesto (Marinelli) and to the whole team for the great job they’ve done."
Click here for a post-race interview with Bayliss