I think that if Rossi leaves Ducati he'll have to disavow his Italian ancestry/citizenship and change his name (poll question, anyone  ?)

In the meantime...Ducati may be making enough progress to keep him around...


http://manziana.motocorse.com/blog/32445_La_vie_en_Rossi_singing_in_the_rain___ING_VERS.php

Man, that really illustrates the "two steps foward, one step back"* nature of tuning these bikes.


*(or the opposite)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/100009

So if they can get around the rookie rule, then The Turd will be looking for another ride AND you still have to replace Stoner. Marquez getting around the rookie rule would also mean that Honda would not go after Lorenzo. In that case the best option would be Rossi. Who better to learn from? I can see HRC pushing for this options since they would keep Repsol happy and Val would bring big $$$ sponsors along with Repsol.

Yamaha is in a tight spot here. They probably have the most ridable bike on the grid, but no big sponsor. They would need to not only keep Lorenzo, but also try to bring in a big name #2, maybe even The Turd. They will not shy away from having 2 Spaniards if they can bring in the big bucks and podiums. The more likely option would be Crutchlow since Lorenzo and The Turd are not the best of friends.

Ducati is pretty much make the beast with two backsed. The more I watch this train wreck, the more I'm convinced it will just end with Rossi going to Honda. They can't fix this shit in a year and Rossi will jump at a chance to take over a winning bike. As has been discussed at nauseum, there will be little reason for Ducati to stay in MotoGP if they can't attract an alien.

http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120607duccrutch.htm

Crutchlow to the Duc?

Quote from: zooom on June 07, 2012, 09:00:47 AM
http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120607duccrutch.htm

Crutchlow to the Duc?

I'm hoping that's just talk, to get Yamaha or another team to make a move.

Quote from: Speeddog on June 07, 2012, 09:10:46 AM
I'm hoping that's just talk, to get Yamaha or another team to make a move.

not that we didn't say this about nicky in 2009 but cal would be a likely candidate to be able to ride that thing.. maybe.

Quote from: gm2 on June 07, 2012, 09:23:24 AM
not that we didn't say this about nicky in 2009 but cal would be a likely candidate to be able to ride that thing.. maybe.

...only if they slap Marlboro plastics on a Yamaha chassis and engine.

well...the whole Duc thing will be more interesting after Laguna when Ducati has put in the final summation of it's development parts thus far to make it a bike again according to the press releases going back over the last couple months from Preziosi...if results start to culminate after that, it could be an entirely different animal with negotiations and so forth...

Quote from: Speeddog on June 07, 2012, 09:10:46 AM
I'm hoping that's just talk, to get Yamaha or another team to make a move.

+1

He's putting pressure on Yamaha to punt Spies and sign him. Dovi is a good rider, but he's not going to win any personality contests.

Quote from: duccarlos on June 07, 2012, 10:20:59 AM
+1

He's putting pressure on Yamaha to punt Spies and sign him. Dovi is a good rider, but he's not going to win any personality contests.

What's the matter with Dovi?

Quote from: ducpainter on June 07, 2012, 01:05:16 PM
What's the matter with Dovi?

He doesn't have Rossi's personality?

Quote from: Speeddog on June 07, 2012, 02:37:24 PM
He doesn't have Rossi's personality?

Very few do.

I think Dovi is a lot like an Italian version of Nicky.

They both do their job and keep most of the 'vernacular' to themselves.

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/lorenzo-signs-two-year-extension-with-yamaha/20837.html

The first chip falls on the table.  Jorge stays with Yammie for two more years.

No surprise there.