Lorenzo to Ducati!

This makes sense only if Casey is not in the frame, if his illness is gonna make him retire, then Ducati would need a top rider and with Rossi and Dani with extended contracts that only leaves Lorenzo free.
But if Casey will be fine next season why spend such a huge sum on a guy that could struggle on the difficult Ducati?

Damn, this does get interesting indeed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 17 2009, 01:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If he signs with Ducati would Hayden then swap to Yamaha for a reunion with Rossi I wouldn't mind that one bit.

My first thought too. Let Lorenzo burn out trying to tame the Ducati
and allow Hayden to get his ... back on the podium.

Lorenzo is clearly still pretty damned impetuous. Maybe he figures if
he can't take the championship away from Ross - the next best thing
is to have a big-... salary to feed his ego and cushion the blow of
being #2. His lack of patience, his needy personality, lack of maturity,
inability to think tactically and his general recklessness - make the
move to Ducati seem not wholly implausible.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Keshav @ Aug 18 2009, 08:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>My first thought too. Let Lorenzo burn out trying to tame the Ducati
and allow Hayden to get his ... back on the podium.

Well Hayden has made progress on the Ducati, maybe Lorenzo thinks they are on the right track and he can finish the puzzle???
Hayden to Yamaha like Austin said earlier is a wet dream for Hayden fans, but with this news could it be a possibility? If I recall Yamaha wanted Hayden to begin with, you think they still want him?

Ducati has made Jorge Lorenzo a lucrative multi-million pound offer to quit Yamaha.
Desperate to sign a top rider while the future of Casey Stoner remains the subject of intense speculation, Marlboro has offered the 22-year-old a bumper £13m two-year deal.

MCN understands Lorenzo had further talks with Phillip Morris executives in Brno on Sunday night, though the Spaniard insists his first choice is to remain in Yamaha’s factory squad.

Marlboro is ready to bankroll a swoop for Lorenzo with the tobacco giant anxious to capture a big name should Stoner’s health issues drag on. Stoner is undertaking a period of complete rest to try and regain fitness for a planned return to action at the Estoril round in Portugal in early October.

Lorenzo said: “Ducati is an option. The important is to have a bike that can win the championship. It seems the Yamaha is the best right now,”

A decision from Lorenzo is imminent, with his manager Marcos Hircht revealing a decision could be made as early as tomorrow (Wednesday), and an announcement would likely be made in Indianapolis.

mcn.18 August 2009 10:57

Yesterday it was 6million now it is 13!

This is some bombshell,seems it may well happen,more news will probably trickle thru today perhaps.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Aug 18 2009, 01:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This makes sense only if Casey is not in the frame, if his illness is gonna make him retire, then Ducati would need a top rider and with Rossi and Dani with extended contracts that only leaves Lorenzo free.
But if Casey will be fine next season why spend such a huge sum on a guy that could struggle on the difficult Ducati?
+1

i fear that we may have seen the last of casey on the ducati. i hope i am not right but its all pointing towards him not continuing. damn, this could be very bad news for CS!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigAl @ Aug 18 2009, 04:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>+1

i fear that we may have seen the last of casey on the ducati. i hope i am not right but its all pointing towards him not continuing. damn, this could be very bad news for CS!

I hope not bud,but it happened to Criville didn`t it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRILL @ Aug 18 2009, 04:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I hope not bud,but it happened to Criville didn`t it.
yep!

as much as it would be very interesting indeed to see jlo on the duc, i would much rather see a grid that still contained stoner. he is not everyones favourite by any means but the sport needs someone like him lining up every race.

Why would he take Stoner's spot over Nicky's?

<span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%(oh dear, this could open a can of worms)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 18 2009, 11:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why would he take Stoner's spot over Nicky's?

<span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%(oh dear, this could open a can of worms)
One possibility would be that Stoner can't come back. Who knows how serious his condition is?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 18 2009, 05:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why would he take Stoner's spot over Nicky's?

<span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%(oh dear, this could open a can of worms)

Perish the thought Sack,but Casey may not be back.....its all speculation though atm mate.

Sorry Matt,just repeated you bud.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L8Braker @ Aug 18 2009, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well Hayden has made progress on the Ducati, maybe Lorenzo thinks they are on the right track and he can finish the puzzle???
Hayden to Yamaha like Austin said earlier is a wet dream for Hayden fans, but with this news could it be a possibility? If I recall Yamaha wanted Hayden to begin with, you think they still want him?
If (a very big IF in my opinion) Lorenzo leaves Yamaha and this opens a seat at Fiat Yama, I would predict they would put Edwards in the spot as a place holder so Spies or whomever else they sign with Tech3 can have a spot come 2011. I doubt they would take a chance with Hayden.

Hayden's in a tough spot right now. Ducati are not offering him a seat yet until Lorenzo decides. If Lorenzo says yes (which I still highly doubt) AND Stoner comes back then Hayden will be out looking for a job. Perhaps this is also why Tech 3 are holding onto their last spot, to pick up the "best of the rest"? I have a feeling that Tech 3 seat will be undecided for a long time. Toesland needs to get out now and pick up the best ride he can back in WSBK, Ten Kate is calling, pick up the phone and say yes.

Another possibility could be Lorenzo demanding #1 status (and no stoner) to sign, forcing them to choose between the guy who's fast on their bike but isn't well or the guy that's fast on another bike and is fit.

Take it for what it is worth. I believe Stoner is sick cause all of this talk of him not being satisfied with the team was AFTER his first hint of the sickness. So I don't think he will be the one leaving the team. Hayden brings with him his status from the US which Ducati in this economic time really needs him to sell bikes, ala the Nicky Hayden 848 model. If Lorenzo is getting offers from Ducati which at this point no one really knows if it is true, he could be using it to bargin some more OR actually be thinking about joining Ducati. So who leaves? No one. They run a three bike team. The only reason why this popped into my head was because right now there is such a limited grid now moving towards sealed motors to keep costs down which may in turn give Ducati the means to add the rider and the bike so as to expand the factory team. If and yeah it is a hugh if that happens Ducati makes a stroke of genius. They would have a champ who can and fights for wins. An American champion who sells everything under the sun for Ducati to the American market. A future champion that has been a proven tough guy, race winner, constantly quick and fights for the wins. This would be very cool.

don't be stupid Jorge. sign with Yamaha.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mastodon @ Aug 18 2009, 05:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>don't be stupid Jorge. sign with Yamaha.

Yeah.if he signs for ducati hes got to battle Casey n Rossi.

if he stays at yam hes got to battle Rossi.

the yam n lorenzo at this time are better than casey n the Duc

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Aug 18 2009, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah.if he signs for ducati hes got to battle Casey n Rossi.

if he stays at yam hes got to battle Rossi.

the yam n lorenzo at this time are better than casey n the Duc

pfft, I don't know what you are watching but barring CS illness he is right there with them and sometimes faster. Casey has proven that the bike can be very quick and even a race winner still. I think that this is a little more serious than most people think. Lorenzo needs to test the ducati somehow before he signs on the dotted line.