Check this s#@t out... Rossi has spoken.

[webspoke]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2008/mgp/indy/1/Thurs02.htm

[svoloch]

remember you heard it here first.

Am I the ONLY one that thinks that this is a bad idea?  I know that Cher and Fastwin think he's cute, but seriously....  there's a lot of emerging talent out there...  and Ducati picks..... Hayden?

[pipeliner1978]

remember you heard it here first.

Am I the ONLY one that thinks that this is a bad idea?  I know that Cher and Fastwin think he's cute, but seriously....  there's a lot of emerging talent out there...  and Ducati picks..... Hayden?

I get hung up on his squinty eyes all the time.......dreamy

[Slag]

You just like the accent 

[pipeliner1978]

You just like the accent 

not that there's anything wrong with that

[Slag]

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080915d.htm

Looks like it is official 

Hayden moves to Ducati 

[fastwin]

Yes, a class act all around. Especially the way Ducati and Melandri handled their situation. He could have pregnant doged about about bad bike or team and they could have done the same about his lack of results on a good bike but both stayed quiet and respectful. The fact that they let him go early and he didn't demand a dime of his '09 contract money is unheard of.

Even though some think Hayden's a whiner I respectfully disagree. He certainly had things to pregnant dog about at Honda but I never read or heard a peep. We'll just have to wait until '09 to see how they fit together. Also glad Melandri has found a home at Kawi. He's a good rider and they want to win. As much as I like Hopper I think Melandri is a better rider. I wish him the best.

[bryant8]

So the Ducati Riders next year looks like (so far):

Factory Ducati/Marlboro
Stoner/Hayden

Alice Ducati
?/?

Onde 2000 (maybe) Ducati
Gibernau/?

[calscrazy]

i think we should all just calm down and see what happens. if he goes out and wins a championship then great for ducati. if he forces stoner to ride better and smarter and he wins a few championships then great move for ducati. if he doesn't it won't be the first bad move by a manufacturer and it won't be the last.

and who knows some of that 250 talent might end up on the bayliss ride

[fastwin]

who knows some of that 250 talent might end up on the bayliss ride

I agree totally! Everyone is focusing on the Hayden for Melandri MotoGP swap and tend to overlook Bayliss' run for the WSBK Championship and there being an empty seat on the Ducati WSBK team next year. Maybe Patrick's favorite Euro Superstock Champ series Ducati rider could be there but never count out the flock of 250GP talent. There some damn good riders in that field and they are some of my favorite races to watch.

[bryant8]

Rumors are Haga is taking Bayliss' seat

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wsbk/news/168634-0/haga_close_to_09_ducati_xerox_deal.html

[fastwin]

I absolutely love Haga. He is one of my top 2 favorite riders in WSBK, Bayliss being the other. I have gotten to see some of the greatest fairing bashing races of all time between those two. It's like they know each other so well and trust each other so much they can run inches apart turn after turn. It's awesome to see, I will surely miss it. And they both run at 110% all the time. They know no other speed. Lots of great racers out there but they are two of the very best ever, regardless of displacement class. Ducati could do a whole lot worse that's for sure. Although it would be funny to see Bayliss' most fearsome opponent riding in his old spot at Ducati. I bet somehow Bayliss would be happy and proud.

[calscrazy]

so you get a japanese rider, an aussie and an american! brilliant by the marketing department!!!  [thumbsup]time to sell some apparrel!!