He’s had a good run. He’s a gonner for reasons mentioned above. I remember him winning a wet Donington (how long ago was that!?). Rossi fell off and still managed to beat James Toseland
Seems to me he has been on sabbatical this year. Ducatis line up for the next 2 seasons looks like a money saving exercise to Build a war chest to tempt 93 away from Honda when his contract is up.
I’ve no doubt Dovi has the ability, but he seems to lack the motivation.. This year in particular with MM out, if I’d been Dovi I’d have gone balls out to win the championship, sort of thrown caution to the wind and just gone for it. His nickname is “the Professor “ because he’s such a calm, methodical thinker, but to have won the championship this year he needed to put that to one side and light a fire in his belly and ride every race like the one GP he won this year. In a way, I think MM has been Dovi’s Nemesis and the only thing that’s been making him up his game over the past few years when he’s finished second to MM having chased him all the season. Looks like this year he’s gonna finish 5th or 6th in the championship to Mir and that seems to me like a backwards step in Dovi’s form??
With Marc M out from so early in the season, this year was Dovi's big chance. If he couldn't do it this year he never will. Sacking Dovi was the only sensible option for Ducati and don't see why any other team would take him.
Yes, you are correct, this was probably Dovi’s best chance at a World Championship, unfortunately, Ducati lost their way and what with the new construction rear tyre and with the exception of a couple of inspired rides by Zarko, Petrucci and Miller, it was Ducati who failed the riders.
