Rumour Mill In Full Swing Today !

Aye this broke a few days ago, see e.g.

https://www.bikesportnews.com/news/...me-to-replace-iannone-in-aprilia-motogp-squad
https://www.visordown.com/news/raci...-land-unexpected-2021-motogp-lifeline-aprilia

What the MotoGP link doesn't explain - presumably as it doesn't want to allude to the murkier aspects of the business - is that BT have a clause in their (expensive) contract requiring a British rider in the premier class. So with Crutchlow moving on Dorna needs to find a Brit ...

So Chaz was sacked at a very opportune moment! And I'm pleased for him - he seems immensely likeable.

 

I met Chaz Davis during the French SBK event in Magny-Cours, in 2017, when Melandri was also racing for Ducati. I was invited there by an italian friend who’s good mates with the bloke who was the Ducati chief engineer at the time (moved to work for Termi that same year, if I remember correctly). I got the full deal VIP. Incredible...

Having diner with them on the Saturday evening in the Ducati hospitality was the best part of the weekend. Davis had had a very difficult race 1 (under dantesque rainy conditions) due to technical issues with his bike and was furious with his team. Ate diner alone, trying to focus for Sunday’s race 2, which he won. Very impressive mental resilience at work right there. Melandri had scored a podium on race 1 so the atmosphere was way more positive at his table.

Food was very Italian and absolutely delicious. And holy crap, Melandri’s wife is worth having diner with!!

 

Hope this works out.

 

*Would prefer to eat out!

 

With his wife Melandris that is...

100%

Beautiful

 

If Chaz goes to Aprilia due to the demands of Dorna and not because Aprilia want him it will be a right shit show.They don’t exactly have a good record when it comes to looking after their riders.

 

I hope the Chaz says no. Aprilia MGP bike is a Poison Challis.

 

Christ he struggled to fit on a Ducati , have you seen how small that Aprilia is... X

 

At meat for him it’s a GP ride and paid to carry on riding I guess.

 

Three man team at Aprilia including Smith

https://www.crash.net/

 

Will say it again, the Aprilia is a Poison Challis to ride. No one wants it.

 

Sounds like hobsons choice...

 

Didn't Chaz race in MotoGP on a Ducati during the 800cc era?

 

I'd rather be a development/test rider than ride the Aprillia tbh

 

i don’t think so he might of had a test try ? i know he was in the 125cc World Championship in a team called Matteo or similar and then went to 250cc WChamps.. Superbikes in various guises after that i believe.. X

 

I thought he had a season or two on a D antin Ducati?

 

Found this on Wiki.

In 2007 he made his MotoGP debut, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for Pramac d'Antin Ducati, riding a Desmosedici GP7 in replacement for the injured Alex Hofmann, who crashed in first practice.[4] Already there for the supporting AMA round, Davies took over on an unfamiliar bike and track.[5] Despite setting solid laptimes, he was overlooked for the following event at Brno, with Iván Silva replacing Hofmann.[6]

On 28 September 2007 it was announced that Chaz Davies would replace Alex Hoffmann at the D'Antin squad for the final three rounds of the 2007 season.[7] After failing to score in Phillip Island and Sepang, Davies was forced to pull out of the final race of the season in Valencia due to hand and wrist injuries sustained during the qualifying and practice sessions. Davies was offered a full-time testing role with Ducati for 2008, but he turned it down in favour of a return to AMA