Well, yes if rumours are to be believed.

The rumour is that they may both ride as wild cards in the World Superbike round at Losail, Qatar. Rossi on a Yamaha YZ1 and Bayliss on the Xerox Ducati (what else?)

This follows Valentino saying that he feels World Superbike is more exciting than Moto GP – can’t disagree with that – and also Bayliss was the surprise winner of the Moto Sprint Rider of the Year award, an accolade normally reserved for Italian riders like Rossi.

Hmmm, not sure I believe this will happen, why would Bayliss want to come back to face a potential defeat after leaving the sport on a massive high?

Then on the other hand, as he readily admits he absolutely loves racing and we know he is still test riding for Ducati, could he resist it if the carrot was dangled?

Neither rider or their teams have issued any confirmation of the story.