https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/dovizioso-rejects-first-ducati-offer-1029674/
This is going to get interesting!
This is going to get interesting!
I think they're definitely short of cash...they're giving it all to Lorenzo while he ..... around at the back..
MM would hand him his backside ........... Dovi has been there and done that, although admittedly it was a less mature Dovi and he was a #3 in the team, but still going back to HRC would be a dangerous move in terms of his career (IMO) as HRC is a Marquez focused organisation.
Yamaha, well he has done tech 3 so he may head back but I do not see him getting a primary factor ride in 2019 (VR/MV) and who gets the 'old' tech 3 bikes is still in the air.
Suzuki is a possibility as Dovi has shown he can both assist development and adapt but is the Suzuki competitive enough for a guy who has now seriously gotten a taste of a world championship? Personally I think not so for mine, he is not headed that way.
KTM have dollars but are still an unknown.
Nope, I see this as a power play by Dovi to highlight that Ducati need him perhaps more than he needs Ducati (JL not producing, Petrucci out and JM not there yet) and so they need to pony up in the dollar market, simple.
Personally I suspect that JL will move on, thus freeing dollars for Dovi and then leaving factory seat 2 available at a less cost (JM as example would be a cheap option by comparison).
Ducati suits Dovi so his leaving will not guarantee any success as Ducati is more his bike than any other
I agree, I don't think Dovi is going to let himself be undervalued again, and HRC as you say despite a contract actually pretty much put him aside although they still paid his salary back in 2011. In the commercial world being humble and diligent doesn't cut it, people tend to be valued at what they are being paid.
Of course they should. He very much deserves to be paid as their lead rider unless they get MM which is not happening.
Jorge got paid a premium as a proven race and title winner when he was signed though, which I am sure was not with the anticipation he would fail, and I am not sure Dovi could reasonably quite expect Jorge's current salary, not that Jorge himself should have any expectations of a premium salary wherever he goes of course.
No pun intended, but that is on the money, mate.
All other points were spot on too, going to Repsol would be a waste of time for anyone with title aspirations so long as Marc is there.
As for a move to Suzuki, it seems like a nice ride, but they are still on concessions. Once they loose those then it is a bit of a lottery as to how the bike will perform.
He's doing the right thing, hold out for more geld. The boggie tracks of Argentina and COTA are out of the way, get some good results in the ground war of Europe (Trademark Arrabiata) to strengthen his bargaining position even further and stay on the Ducati.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
This is a typical negotiation, the ones signing the checks make a low ball , the one cashing the check counters with a high offer and they settle in between. Much ado about nothing, sensationalism. No one is getting 12 million again at Ducati unless in the future they add 5 to that and snatch Marquez. Dovi will sign for around 5-6 mil and Lorenzo will get about the same.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Agreed.
I suspect Dovi will get in the $6 to $8 million range when all is said and done. He doesn't have a lot of options if he wants to get paid something he feels is acceptable. Wouldn't mind seeing him on the RCV again, but it'd be career suicide as Gaz alluded to.
Ducati will never pay double digits again unless as povol said, it's for Marquez. He's the only rider on the grid worth north of $15 million.
Ducati hamstrung their WSBK operations by signing Lorenzo for the $12 million and have Marco Melandri riding for free with sponsor dollars because they couldn't afford to pay a second rider thanks to the now albatross contract of Lorenzo. Chaz Davies was the only rider in the team they could afford to pay. Given they have the V4 Panigale rolling out next year, I think they may want to pay a second rider unless they want to field Melandri again. But rolling that bike out with a stringent budget is not in the cards.
Hope Jorge enjoys Suzuki or being paid $4 million at most to stay.
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 509+
USA
They have been in negotiations for months, as far back as the end of last season it was mentioned that they were already engaged in negotiations, so its likely that several offers have gone back and forth. The fact that this has hit the media, says to me that both sides are at a stale mate, and may not be willing to budge.
Joined Jun 2016
642 Posts | 244+
Santa Cruz, Cal
True. Although we don't know how "serious" talks have been. Is there somewhere else for Dovi to go and make serious Ducati money? I have my doubts. I think he will sign with Ducati, again, just because he has limited choices. And everything else is good there, except cranky Jorge. They will give him a new bus or something to sweeten the pot and that will be it. My 2 cents.
Joined Mar 2015
2K Posts | 337+
Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 509+
USA
It wouldn't surprise me if KTM has made him an offer, he did a fantastic job developing the Ducati, and he would be the best possible rider to develop the KTM.
Joined Jun 2016
642 Posts | 244+
Santa Cruz, Cal
We race fans can only hope that sugary caffeine drinks do not go the way of cigarettes.
Ducati caught the HRC disease of "Our bike is great. Shut-up and ride." HRC did it to Doohan and Rossi and Hayden and probably Stoner. Stoner was pretty open, for him, about Ducati's inability to listen to his advice when he was there. HRC may be doing the same thing to Marquez. We just don't know because he can ride around about anything, but trouble with Rossi.
