MotoGP Blog

Ducati are playing the long game with their riders - in MotoGP, two riders contracted for two seasons is certainly the long game. Stoner even has an option for 2010. Looking at the wording of the press release, Loris certainly seems to be out in the cold, which is such a reversal for the old stager from the “Dream Team” tag bandied about a few years ago. Take the headline:

DUCATI TEAM ANNOUNCES 2008 AND 2009 MOTOGP LINE-UP

…and the release going on to say that the team is Melandri and Stoner. A done deal. And not including you Capirex. Mention of Loris is relegated to the final words:

Next week Loris Capirossi and his manager will meet with Ducati representatives to evaluate the possibility of preparing a third official Desmosedici MotoGP bike for the Italian rider to use in the 2008 World Championship.

Which motogpblog believes could be rephrased as “Have you got a sponsor to bring with you Loris, one that will cover a significant proportion (or all) of the costs of you riding a third bike?”

It sounds as though Ducati are holding all the cards. Their team line-up is decided for the next two years, and it’s up to Capirossi to convince them they need to keep him. Will Capirossi’s pride let him even try to convince Ducati? Or will he make a big money move to Suzuki or Kawasaki? We’ll probably know in a couple of weeks.