Ducati ponder Ben Spies swoop

Here we go the summer silly season in full swing.
if it WAS to happen.?
is it a 3 man official team or is Casey/Nicky out of the Door.(yes theres the rookie rule)

Who could be sweating for there Seat
Maybe they had Enough of a certain peeps Moaning .I'll get my coat lol.

Edit. so Canepa could be out ( does he bring good money in to the team.? )
imo the Duc's not been good for anyone to ride,Except Casey never mind a Rookie
could the Official Team end up ALL AMERICAN.Spies/Haystack.
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05 August 2009 13:17
Ducati has joined the race to sign in-demand World Superbike sensation Ben Spies.

The Texan has become the most sought after rider for 2010 with a series of dazzling WSB performances that have made him top target for several MotoGP teams.

Suzuki and Yamaha have already been in serious discussion with Spies about a 2010 deal and now Ducati is keen to get the triple American superbike champion on board.

Ducati’s MotoGP boss Livio Suppo told MCN that Spies is firmly on the radar of the Bologna factory for both WSB and MotoGP and he said: "We really like Ben. We’d really like to see him on our bike and it’s still not clear what his future is in terms of WSB or MotoGP. I’ve not spoken with him directly but he’s a very interesting rider for us and what he is doing in World Superbikes is impressive, "added Suppo.

Suppo recently confirmed that Pramac Ducati rider Mika Kallio will definitely be staying to ride a GP10 next season. Ducati is poised to exercise an option to keep the Finn.

IT'S MCN BTW

Maybe for the distant future is all I can think mate,for me he should go to Tech 3 and get his toes wet.

This realy isn't a news story. All teams are looking to sign Spies. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Spies on a customer Ducati...well maybe a little. I alluded to this in another thread and was laughed at. He would be silly not to take a Yamaha ride if he could.

I think the most surprising would be to see Spies on a Suzuki next year. Now that would be a shocker

If Spies lands anywhere outside his current team or Tech 3 Yamaha I'd be very surprised.

Kalli get his option renewed.
Spies gets courted.
Hayden get ignored?
Livio, if you treat Hayden like you did Loris, you'll never get another top rider...

If nothing promising opens up in Moto GP - Spies could go with a factory
Ducati in WSB and he'd end up with an unbeatable points lead by
mid-season. I think he'd be crazy to go to any Moto GP seat other
than Tech 3. Honda is wacky, Suzuki is just wack. Kaw won't be around
and Ducati GP bikes (at present)are a career killer, or at best a time waster.

He'd be nuts not to stay with the 'Triple Tuning Fork', a move to Ducati would almost certainly be the end before it began!

Throw him straight in the Fiat Garage! Jorhenzos heading to 'H' land.....

Well one thing is for sure, Ducati are serious about racing, but no way he'll take that ride.

On a related note, i guess the MotoGP scouts "havent seen anything" from Spies to make them thing he would be any good in GP, eh Tommy?

(insert backpedaling here)

Tiz just MCN using the silly season to sell there rag.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (chopperman @ Aug 6 2009, 02:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Tiz just MCN using the silly season to sell there rag.
Still brings to mind your discussion on an earlier thread as to whether ducati would be loyal to /patient with casey forever. This could be construed (if it is not an MCN fictional headline grabber) as a message to casey that it is time for him to get over whatever ails him. Even to a die hard fan of casey's he does not appear to believe he can win at the moment, and ducati are unlikely to tolerate even genuine physical health problems forever particularly given that the window in which their current bike is good enough to win may be close to closure, and future such windows may also be narrow.

Spies would however seem to figure in yamaha's succession plan and would, I agree, be crazy to ditch them for ducati, unless he could somehow trial the bike beforehand. On the other hand he is by repute a good development rider, something ducati would seem to require at present, and might be able to develop the bike to suit him if necessary.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Aug 6 2009, 02:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Still brings to mind your discussion on an earlier thread as to whether ducati would be loyal to /patient with casey forever. This could be construed (if it is not an MCN fictional headline grabber) as a message to casey that it is time for him to get over whatever ails him. Even to a die hard fan of casey's he does not appear to believe he can win at the moment, and ducati are unlikely to tolerate even genuine physical health problems forever particularly given that the window in which their current bike is good enough to win may be close to closure, and future such windows may also be narrow.

Spies would however seem to figure in yamaha's succession plan and would I agree be crazy to ditch them for ducati, unless he could somehow trial the bike beforehand. On the other hand he is by repute a good development rider, something ducati would seem to require at present, and might be able to develop the bike to suit him if necessary.

I'm not a spies fan. But I've been rooting for the Ducati team on SBK. So, I would LOVE to see Spies go on to Ducati MotoGP.

Yes well as Roger says - it is MCN so grain of salt time.

But, to me the interesting comment is Suppos alleged comment mentioning WSBK or MotoGP which could be taken any number of ways.

Could it be that Haga is out at years end (or even Fabrizio), Spies to Ducati who them have him signed up for MotoGP in 2011 as by then there is hope that the rookie rule will be repealed and shown up as nonsensical.

Could they be offering a satellite ride with D'antin or another (doubtful) with the view to Spies entering the factory team in 2011 at expense of Hayden or Stoner

Again though all is pure speculation


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Aug 6 2009, 01:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Still brings to mind your discussion on an earlier thread as to whether ducati would be loyal to /patient with casey forever. This could be construed (if it is not an MCN fictional headline grabber) as a message to casey that it is time for him to get over whatever ails him. Even to a die hard fan of casey's he does not appear to believe he can win at the moment, and ducati are unlikely to tolerate even genuine physical health problems forever particularly given that the window in which their current bike is good enough to win may be close to closure, and future such windows may also be narrow.

Spies would however seem to figure in yamaha's succession plan and would, I agree, be crazy to ditch them for ducati, unless he could somehow trial the bike beforehand. On the other hand he is by repute a good development rider, something ducati would seem to require at present, and might be able to develop the bike to suit him if necessary.

Michael, the CS comment is interesting as I for one do not think that Ducati would remove him because of his illness and I don't subscribe to him having lost any motivation with the illness, so in fairness I don't see that happenning.

But, Ducati do appear to have come in late so could CS have dropped a bombshell that is not public yet?

Could he have advised the team of a departure either in 2010 or 2011 and Ducati are now reacting and looking at Spies.

I have no idea on any truths, just speculating as it is that season.







Garry

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Aug 5 2009, 06:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Still brings to mind your discussion on an earlier thread as to whether ducati would be loyal to /patient with casey forever. This could be construed (if it is not an MCN fictional headline grabber) as a message to Casey that it is time for him to get over whatever ails him. Even to a die hard fan of Casey's he does not appear to believe he can win at the moment, and Ducati are unlikely to tolerate even genuine physical health problems forever particularly given that the window in which their current bike is good enough to win may be close to closure, and future such windows may also be narrow.

Like Rog says, consider the source! MCN exaggerate? NEVER!
3 or 4 races is a long ways from 'forever.' Besides, Livio/Ducati must realize that they are NOT in the driver's seat. To date they have found one and only one guy who can consistently run anywhere near the front. If Stoner is still getting 'tummy aches' (I happen to think his health problems are very real) at year's end, then maybe they will reconsider his commitment. Until then they will be giving Stoner all the support, physical and psychological, that they can muster. Leaning on him to 'buck up' and get with the program can only piss of their star rider.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Spies would however seem to figure in yamaha's succession plan and would, I agree, be crazy to ditch them for ducati, unless he could somehow trial the bike beforehand. On the other hand he is by repute a good development rider, something ducati would seem to require at present, and might be able to develop the bike to suit him if necessary.

Yea, Toesland's seat has got to be the obvious cherry for an incoming rookie.

I think the burden of proof is on Ducati. Given Nicky and Mika's hit-and-miss successes, a single trial ride may not constitute sufficient 'proof' that the bike is worth the risk. Only if the Duc riders continue to improve, and show consistency, would anyone take the chance. As of now, I think most riders would much rather ride a third Zook or one of the neutered Hondas before jumping on a satellite Duc.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Aug 6 2009, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Still brings to mind your discussion on an earlier thread as to whether ducati would be loyal to /patient with casey forever.


Um ..... this is a pretty funny thing to be thinking, considering that even sick he is the best rider they have ever had

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Aug 6 2009, 04:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Michael, the CS comment is interesting as I for one do not think that Ducati would remove him because of his illness and I don't subscribe to him having lost any motivation with the illness, so in fairness I don't see that happenning.

But, Ducati do appear to have come in late so could CS have dropped a bombshell that is not public yet?

Could he have advised the team of a departure either in 2010 or 2011 and Ducati are now reacting and looking at Spies.

I have no idea on any truths, just speculating as it is that season.
Garry
Of course they won't sack him, my point is that they may not elect to continue to have all their eggs in the casey basket, given that he has proved fragile now for a significant part of 2 successive seasons; I don't doubt he has/had significant health problems, with the scaphoid problem in particular being entirely consistent with events last year in my not entirely uneducated view. I believe he lost the title last year before the scaphoid problem arose anyway, due to bike/tyre problems and mr rossi's and yamaha's not inconsiderable efforts. But freddie spencer who it is hard to deny had a better career than stoner has had thus far had genuine physical problems also, in an era when professional sport was arguably less ruthless.

I may be over-reading things, but casey's tyre decision in the last race really worried me. He seems to have gone from saying cool weather gave him a better chance in his current condition to believing a wet race was his only chance and thence to deciding to run it as a wet race regardless. I don't believe his competitors have psyched him out, but whatever physically ails him seems to be really getting to him.

another bad decision by ducati if this goes ahead. another average rider riding for ducati, and the bike will again take the blame for the riders poor performance. yes i will be right again

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Aug 5 2009, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But, Ducati do appear to have come in late so could CS have dropped a bombshell that is not public yet?
I have no idea on any truths, just speculating as it is that season.


Garry

I stated that at the beginning of cs's illness . That maybe cs doesn't want to ride the rodeo bike anymore. He rode it fast when it had advantages over the rest of the field, but now (even last year) he has to ride the .... out of it just to be competitive. I think he is tired of it. But like most are saying they would be stupid not to make an attempt at picking up Spies.

Pinky you are a ...... ...... Why didn't you just go away when 69 was picked up by ducati. Just another average rider(spies), do you actually watch ....... motorcycle racing you twit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Aug 6 2009, 07:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>yes i will be right again
Yes you will be right again. Right up some guys .... Pinky the feltch master.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Aug 6 2009, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>another bad decision by ducati if this goes ahead. another average rider riding for ducati, and the bike will again take the blame for the riders poor performance. yes i will be right again
Alright genius, since you seem to know how to predict the future, who should Ducati hire that would be successful? You CANNOT pick from these riders: Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Dovi, Edwards.

Basically Ducati have to pick from the mid pack or outside of the series. Who would you pick if you were Suppo? Kallio has shown he is simply on par with Hayden. Not a single rookie is going to be allowed on the factory team due to the new rule. So what does that leave them with?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Aug 6 2009, 12:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>another bad decision by ducati if this goes ahead. another average rider riding for ducati, and the bike will again take the blame for the riders poor performance. yes i will be right again
??? Average rider? The dude goes to a new series on a brand new bike and would be leading the championship if he didn't get punted. Oh yeah he beat Doug Polens record for poles. Pinky your really stupid. ........ people are smarter than you.

I think you guy's may be missing something. If ducati is looking at Spies. They are not just looking at the rider alone. Spies will go with his two technicians. The very important tools ducati need to sort their bike out. It is clear at this stage ducati, has realized they have a bike problem.





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