A much-rumoured World Superbike race between Valentino Rossi and Troy Bayliss will not happen this season but the reigning MotoGP World Champions hasn't ruled it out.

Bayliss has said he would have to be a $1m to race The Doctor and there are still rumours that Rossi may still take part in the Qatar Superbike race alongside Ben Spies and Tom Sykes.

Speaking about the Bayliss clash, Rossi said: "It was a fun idea, and I would have been very happy. I would still like to do a race in superbike and I would like to battle with Bayliss, because he is the world champion!

"Unfortunately it is a bit of a difficult period and I didn’t have the chance, but I hope that in the future, maybe next year, we can do it."