Each side is trying to apply pressure ‘to get more or pay less’ by exploiting public media to signal to the other side with the aim of impacting the negotiation. I’m reminded of all the times riders say they have “options” to bluff, or in the case of HRC, they basically did the same to Pedro in reverse, by saying his contract is not a foregone conclusion, in other words HRC is saying they have “options”. What we are witnessing are negotiations in public. Which likely means there was an impasse in private negotiations, or the sides are playing hardball. HRC for example didn’t need to announce to the world, hey we want to make Marc’s camp happy, so we will need his seal of approval. I don’t buy it, they are a strong company, they showed VR the door and since have kept on wining championships with three different riders. Marc is smart and he is not going anywhere, everybody knows it.
HRC have a strong position despite Marc’s exceptional talent, Honda are far stronger in their position than Ducati towards Dovi. Perhaps this was a way for the Japanese factory saving face because Zarco turned them down, who knows. Dovi and Ducati are locked in an extraordinary situation because Lorenzo has made it painfully clear, despite the “new and improved” Ducati, it IS still a hell of a bike to ride. One guy is actually doing the business on it, operative word ‘one’; this puts Ducati in a weak position. Dovi is basically in the driver’s err rider’s seat here, regardless of supposed offers or not, he took the Ducati to the closing stages of the championship last year, full stop. Enter new season, he won the first race of the season, and looked to be challenging for the runner-up position in the last race until “teammate” Lorenzo went full Iann-done on him.
I don’t know if Dovi’s agent said he doesn’t have any offers on the table, frankly if Hack Oxley is reporting it, my first and always impression is that he is lying. The fact is Dovi’s agent is not capitulating to whatever soft contract offer Ducati made. So it may seem like it was a stupid thing to say, if he said it, but then again, he also rejected Ducati and told them, ‘uhm, you see that guy across the garage, he is making a shitload more money for being 20th in the championship, with 6 measly points, with 4 races behind us, oh and he just cost our boy Dovi 20 points, if not more. You know, that guy who ignored your “Map 8” and made all of you look like ....... fools on the world wide feed. That was fun.’ So I wouldn’t be so quick to say Dovi’s agent is cottage cheese. He’s doing right by Dovi, who frankly deserves a substantial pay raise.
Regarding Ducati’s interest in Cal Crashmore, you know, I wouldn’t put it past Ducati, they have made insanely stupid decisions in the past. Sorry Cal fans, but his arrogant pronouncements, again lately, demanding HRC reward him then going out and murdering another bike makes it impossible to like him. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Cal should look to Pedro for some humility and decency. Hiring Cunthoke in the first place was one of Ducati’s all time foolish decisions, and it was recompensed immediately with Buttflow DNFing with such regularity that Swiss clock makers were impressed. You can include Swiss bankers too, as his crash bill must have been staggering! And here is the real pisser, he quit half way into the contract. If Ducati want a guy talking .... about their bike and employer, they should hire Cuntslow. If they want a guy to torpedoe their bikes (i guess they'd replacing Iannone, Lorenzo in that regard) then hire Clown Cuntslow. If they want a guy with "tenacious work ethic" don't hire Cquit Crutchoe.
