A potential association between Ducati and Alstare could be confirmed this week. Although no formal agreement has yet been reached, GPone.com suggests the deal could be officially announced on Wednesday. It is understood a number of formal details relating to the emergence of the Alstare Ducati team are yet to be finalised by lawyers, with budget issues a key topic on the agenda. Alstare's Francesco Batta told the Italian website: “The days of a simple handshake are long gone and rightly everything must be evaluated and considered by the specialists in this field.” Spain's Carlos Checa has a contract with Ducati for 2013, although Sylvain Guintoli – who is being linked to a ride in the prospective Alstare-backed team next season – remains in the dark over his immediate future. The Frenchman turned down a ride with FIXI Crescent Suzuki and was rumoured as a possible replacement for world champion Max Biaggi at Aprilia in the very unlikely scenario the Italian rider retires from the sport. However, an agreement between Ducati and Alstare appears on the cards, given that the Italian marque has lost four teams recently, including Red Devils Roma, Pata, Althea and Liberty. At this stage the only deal so far secured for 2013 is with Mario Rubatto, who will run Max Neukirchner. Alstare had aspirations of running a factory MV Agusta team in World Supersport this year but the plans fell through when the Italian marque failed to obtain the necessary budget to field the F3. Alstare Suzuki won the 2005 World Superbike title with Troy Corser and later gave MotoGP exile Max Biaggi his WSBK break. Source:Alstare Ducati outcome expected this week | WSBK News | Nov 2012 | Crash.Net
