Both Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team riders experienced mixed emotions at Phillip Island on Sunday. Chaz Davies was highly satisfied to have collected podium finishes in both races, but naturally disappointed to have missed out on victory. As for temporary team-mate Troy Bayliss, who substituted for the injured Davide Giugliano, the three-time World Champion was left to lament a lack of preparation despite being pleased to have made a Phillip Island outing in front of his home crowd.

“I’m finally on the podium at Phillip Island and twice over - having tried every year to get here, I’ve finally done it!” Welshman Davies smiled. “I would have liked to be able to do something more but it wasn’t possible, I was just missing a little more drive in the final laps and tried to conserve the tyres as well as I could. I personally have always started the championship a little badly and so this result is extremely important. It confirms that we are starting at a different level with respect to last year and I was able to stick there with Rea fairly comfortably. We’ve worked hard this weekend, concentrated on race distance, and it seems to have paid off. I thank my whole team but also all of the technicians back at Borgo Panigale for their hard work over the winter. The results obtained here are a good base on which to build.”

With some fans having visited Phillip Island especially upon learning that Bayliss would be riding, the title winner of 2001, 2006 and 2008 was all smiles despite having had to pit in the second race due to severe tyre wear.

“I’m feeling a real mix of emotions at the end of the weekend,” said the 45-year-old. “I came here to have fun and for the fans and the Phillip Island circuit. I thought that maybe I wouldn’t have the pace to be able to run with these guys anymore but instead I’ve seen that I can still be fast and, if it hadn’t been for the tyre issue, I think I could have done a lot more. So, I don’t know…it’s a pity I didn’t have more time on-track and I didn’t have time to train properly ahead of the event of course, but all-in-all it’s been a really fun weekend. In many ways it feels like nothing has changed since 2008 (the year of Bayliss’ retirement from WorldSBK). I thank Ducati for giving me the opportunity and also all of the fans and ‘Ducatisti’ for their continued support.”

Collecting 32 points for Davies’ pair of third place finishes, Ducati heads to Round 2 in Thailand third in the Manufacturers’ Championship, behind the tied Aprilia and Kawasaki who are tied on 45 points courtesy of one race victory apiece.