Dovi to Ducati

[RB 2 11]

https://www.facebook.com/aumotorcyclenews

[speed3]

I really like both him and crutchlow, hopefully they can continue pushing each other to do well there. Unfortunately I just can't see them being as competitive as at Tech 3.



derp edit: Hayden confirmed to stay.

[Tallerthansteve]

Crutchlow won't b at ducati. There is only one ride available as Hayden was signed couple weeks back.

[Thunderbird]

Hadnt Crutchlow alreay been offered a seat at Ducati, before Hayden was resigned, did he knock it back or is the Dovi story just a rumour at present? This is interesting as the whole reason he went to Tech 3 was to try and get a Factory Yamaha ride. I would of thought he might of hung around at tech 3 longer.

[rc_sam]

Really like Dovi, but he'll have his work cut out for him next year.

[Tallerthansteve]

Hadnt Crutchlow alreay been offered a seat at Ducati, before Hayden was resigned, did he knock it back or is the Dovi story just a rumour at present? This is interesting as the whole reason he went to Tech 3 was to try and get a Factory Yamaha ride. I would of thought he might of hung around at tech 3 longer.

I'm not sure how much credibility ducats attempt to get Crutchlow had. First he was told they were in talks but couldn't do anything and no GP contracts would be drawn till the Audi takeover of Ducati was complete, yet just a couple days later Haydens contract is renewed. Rossi clears out ad I thought an announcement saying Cal had signed would follow shortly after but there was nothing. Now the Dovi rumor. Did Ducati ever actually want Crutchlow or was it just a bluff by his management to mayb get Yamaha to make a move for him?

[Hachiko]

It will be interesting to see him on the Ducati next year. No doubt he'll be pushing that thing to the limit... not like Rossi.

[CBRay]

Its official
motogp.com · Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati together beginning in 2013

I wonder who the number 1 rider will be? I personally hope its Nicky.

[Stu]

I would rather see the preferential treatment (if some exists) go to Dovizioso over Hayden - more of a gut feeling in the ability of Andre over Nicky at this point in time.

[n8balls]

It will be very interesting to see how he goes on the Ducati compared to Crutchlow on the yamaha (provided he's till there). I predict Crutchlow will place ahead of him - I think the tech 3 is the third best bike out there

[CBRay]

I'd rather Nicky gets the number 1 spot cos he's been there awhile and deserves it.

[JAFA]

Number 1 in the team doesn't mean jack when you're 8th every Sunday afternoon..............

[Aufitt]

Meanwhile Smith battles for 16th place in Moto2......

[irdizzle]

Number 1 in the team doesn't mean jack when you're 8th every Sunday afternoon..............

Are you referring to Rossi here?

There's still Abraham's and Barbara's seat up for grabs. The former's having an absolute shocker of a season so far. Hope Crazy Joe gets a spot for Pramac! Does that mean Crutchlow is staying put with Tech3 as there's only Smith confirmed?!?!? Interesting times.....

[SOLID]

Glad dovi landed on his feet even if it were on top of a pile of shit I just hope that Hayden and Dovi hang in long enough for them to see results (yes I'm looking at you Audi).

[JAFA]

Are you referring to Rossi here?

No, but it applies to him as well. I meant that it doesn't matter whether Dovi or Hayden is the number 1 at Ducati next year, because no one will care when they're fighting it out for 8th with the other grid fillers.

I think this is a very backwards move by Dovi, and I also think it smells very much like Rossi's move to Ducati, that of pig-headedness despite the consequences ( Rossi couldn't cope with the fact he got his arse handed to him by a young gun when on equal machinery / Dovi is pissed he didn't get the Yamaha Factory ride so gives Yamaha the finger ). If he had stayed at Tech 3, at least he'd have a decent and realistic chance of a podium quite often, as this year has proven. I think he's riding better this year than he has the last 3 years on the HRC bike. Next year he'll be nowhere, and on the slippery slide out the door of MotoGP. No one but Stoner can ride the Ducati, and even he struggled towards the end of his time there, so I don't know why super smooth Dovi thinks he will be able to ride it. The bike needs to be ridden probably past it's limit to get anywhere on it, and manhandled around the track dirt track style with maximum commitment, and that is the opposite way to the way Dovi rides, so I can't help but think he's made a very bad career move, ala Marco Melandri, who's never really recovered from his stint on the bike, and has now slipped into oblivion ( WSBK?? ). One can't help but think he's done it for 2 reasons - to give the fingers to Yamaha for not giving him a factory ride next year, and for the $$$$$$$$, which surely must be substantially more than he currently gets at Tech 3.

[speed3]

I understand why he went. He's been burnt by HRC and he's guaranteed not to get a Yamaha factory spot for at least 2 years, probably more.

That leaves Ducati as the only remaining factory team.

No one will ever win a championship on a satellite bike, the factories won't allow it so his only remaining choice is to back himself and see if he can tame/develop the beast or settle for contesting 4th in the championship every year.

[thro]

pay cheque was hopefully worth killing his career over.

the tech3 bike is a good thing, unfortunately he'll likely be fighting to get into the top 10 next year.

[n8balls]

I don't think the factory ducati is even the best ducati out on the track...

kind of like how ringo wasn't even the best drummer in The Beatles let alone the world

[thro]

I don't think the factory ducati is even the best ducati out on the track...

kind of like how ringo wasn't even the best drummer in The Beatles let alone the world

the "factory ducati" at this point is changing so much its probably not the best duc on track. at least the satellite guys have a known quantity to work with race in race out.