So all the seats await Rossi's decision on his future. I'm amazed all the u turn decisions of the big 2 who said they wouldn't have him back! Full factory Honda ? Full factory Yamaha ? or Ducati ? I think if Ducati come up with a clear plan of progress and Preziso gets replaced i think he will stay.
First comment on this thread, I don't think Rossi is a quitter so he will stay at Ducati until they win and that will be his grand finale. Steve
Totally agree with that. But I can't help feeling he's not riding the same bike as Hayden...CRT's are the future of motogp, in one way or another, and I wonder if Rossi is setting up a customer bike rather than a full works jobbie. They have to think ahead, after all. Just a thought.
Technically the Ducati could be classed as a CRT bike I guess already, has an FTR chassis with works engine. Also the latest rumours seem to suggest the below regarding seats/moves [TABLE="class: replyRow, width: 738"] [TR] [TD]Hayden is going to Suzuki Spies is going to BMW in WSB Rossi will go to Yamaha with backing from Fiat Crutchlow going to Ducati Dovi going to Ducati Satellite honda to Iannone Smith to Tech3 Espegaro junior to Tech3 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
I'm split on this, part of me wants him to go to the Yamaha again and show up some of those who think he's lost it (not talking about any one here) plus Rossi on the M1 was just a match made in heaven, its suits his riding style as much as Lorenzo's, also he considers it his baby as he and JB invested so much in making it work so well, imagine the excitement next year with Lorenzo and Rossi both on works Yamahas again. Then there is that lesser part (but still strong) part of me that thinks Rossi should stay with Ducati and finish the job or fade away, that would be really sad if he faded without any more wins though, and potentially that is what might happen staying with Ducati. Looking back, Rossi's best relationships were with Yamaha, definitely not Honda and probably not Ducati either, as has been said Rossi could bring in the sponsorship money Yamaha need so badly. If Rossi does go back to Yamaha, then surely to god Ducati will keep Nicky Hayden, he sure deserves it.
This years mid season speculation on the moves being made for next season are so far more exciting than this years moves on the track in actual racing!
I think if Rossi goes anywhere without a victory it could mean the end for Ducati in motogp, they'll be left with egg on their faces and more so if Valentino did jump on an M1 or RCV and started getting results. Plus you have to believe Dorna have a huge vested interest in keeping Valentino competitive and retaining Ducati in the series so who knows what strings are being pulled behind the scenes. Likewise i think Edwards will retire or go back to WSB next year if Spies does also go to WSB that leaves one American in the series currently with no ride for 2013 and two US rounds, Ducati would be crazy for sales alone not retaining Nicky... Maybe Pramac but still crazy.
I think it would be nice if Rossi could squeeze in a win or at least some dry podiums before the end of this season, maybe that could happen with the new engine improvements? but after that and still no success? who could deny Rossi the chance to grab back some of his glory days that I'm sure he would get on the Yamaha before he did retire in two years time as he had said or hinted. It would be a shame to lose Ducati if this were the scenario and i know this is a Ducati forum and thoughts here must be biased towards them as a factory, but they are still a major player and their exposure and persistence wins many hearts and sells many Bikes I'm sure, but the all Italian dream so far has not been working, keep Nickey who is a proven solid rider for them and take on Cal if he feels up to it, but please do take on board what Rossi and JB have been saying too that only now seems to be taking effect. For those that think in-house fighting cant happen at such a professional level, it can and does, you just need to look at the in house fighting between the Royal Navy and RAF in the Falklands war to see pride can get in the way of everything and anything to the detriment of everyone ... other wars have started over lesser ego's
I can tell you that infighting, career-building and politics are the meat and potatoes of corporate life - pretty much anywhere I suspect and I'll bet it's no different at Ducati. You will remember the rival Honda departments in the 80s - the inline 4 dept and the V4 dept. They were deliberately set against each other to try to get out the best bike for Honda. The results were the CBR and the Fireblade and the all-conquering race V4s: RC30 and RC45.
I don't think in-house fighting in house is quite the same though I can see the point with those two Honda projects, but in-house ego's fighting towards one common goal seems to be what's happening at Ducati, or crisis talks since Rossi's last outburst have made them think about things and maybe patch things over. And lets not forget, there are some serious ego's at Ducati just now for both rider and designer ... I've lost one or two good friends over egotistical matters. It seems to me Honda like, Yes men ... the old company i worked for in the oil biz liked Yes men and they would get the preferential treatment, if you stood up for something that was better, you were shunned, as you say mate, its bound to be no different at Ducati, we all know of two very big ego's there just now Yamaha, it seems to me are more humble traditional Japanese businessmen who listen, they listened to Rossi and Jeremy Burgess when they switched and they are still reaping in the rewards ... sure you will get the odd wild card like Casey Stoner who can ride almost anything pretty well, but he's well in the minority, even less so now that he's retiring. Its a pity some bikes suit some riders lesser and more, but thats what we have right now and the Ducati does not seem to fit Rossi .. only hope this can change before end of season but i suspect even more contracts are going to be signed for next year in the next couple of months and if Rossi is in with a shout for the Yamaha ride he better act soon.
