Former World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss will team up with Alex Barros at Camel Honda, the MotoGP team has announced.

The Australian was dumped by Marlboro Ducati at the end of last season but has shown enough speed in his two years of MotoGP to earn a second chance for 2005.

Bayliss will join former world champion Sito Pons' privateer team alongside Brazilian veteran Barros after 2004 riders Makoto Tamada and Max Biaggi departed.

Pons is convinced he has signed the perfect rider line-up to move his team on after a relatively disappointing 2004.

Biaggi was expected to challenge old rival Valentino Rossi for the title but put in a lacklustre effort to finish a distant third in the championship while Tamada enjoyed two wins but was rarely a consistent challenger.

"After two highly successful seasons the Camel Honda team now moves up a gear with the incorporation of two highly gifted and experienced riders," said Pons.

"With Alex and Troy leading the charge, I am confident that the yellow Camel Honda bikes will be constantly battling for the leading positions in every race.

"Whilst we clearly have a lot of hard work ahead of us this winter, I am confident that this exciting new project will bring much success to everyone concerned once the 2005 championship gets under way in April in Jerez."

Camel Honda have some catching up to do though, with reigning champion Rossi already clocking up kilometres in testing for Gauloises Yamaha.

The Italian was fastest in a private test at Sepang on Monday, beating new team-mate Colin Edwards by over half a second.

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