Lorenzo to Ducati!

Gotta wonder if Edwards gets sent packing in that scenario, though, and whether he'd end up in GP or WSBK at that point. He's done everything to keep his seat, thoroughly beating his teammate and all other sat riders, but that's just a rather odd lineup. Most of the larger riders and superbike alumni on the grid all on one make, and 75% american?

This from the interview on crash.net I just posted on Kevin Schwantz. The interviewer said: The news in Europe is that he (Lorenzo) signed to ride for Ducati.

...., is it that hard to get an official word?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 20 2009, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Other highlighted sentence: as for Yamaha, it follows that the next teammate of Rossi will be Nicky Hayden.
I don't know why, but it was so much more satisfying for me to read it as Yamaha, pues el próximo compañero de Rossi será Nicky Hayden. Jumkie, si esto es cierto, necesitamos celebrar. No se que decir. Estoy muy contento.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 20 2009, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>HOLY .... IF this is true.
I keep reading the same things, Lorenzo to Ducati, Hayden to Yamaha but I still don't believe it. If it is, 2010 is going to be about as excited as I've been for a GP season in quite some time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Aug 20 2009, 05:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Gotta wonder if Edwards gets sent packing in that scenario, though, and whether he'd end up in GP or WSBK at that point. He's done everything to keep his seat, thoroughly beating his teammate and all other sat riders, but that's just a rather odd lineup. Most of the larger riders and superbike alumni on the grid all on one make, and 75% american?
I would think that to have three out of four of your riders being the same nationality would not be possible for anyone. But then you think about it, the US is a big market and their fourth (not in order or importance, just in order of this list) rider is Valentino Rossi. Any sponsor wouldn't care who the other riders are or where they're from so long as they have Rossi. They obviously want Spies, Edwards is quite valuable for development and I don't think there is anyone more qualified for the number two seat than Hayden.

In unrelated news, won't Rossi fans be happy to have a few 'haters' converted by default?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Aug 20 2009, 04:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't know why, but it was so much more satisfying for me to read it as Yamaha, pues el próximo compañero de Rossi será Nicky Hayden. Jumkie, si esto es cierto, necesitamos celebrar. No se que decir. Estoy muy contento.

Tambien para mi. Espero que sea cierto!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 20 2009, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If Lorenzo would win the championship on the Ducati that would be the ultimate slap in the face to a lot of riders, including Rossi. If he could pull it off that would be one of the greatest GP feats ever IMO.

Exact same words from the end of 2003, just had ‘Rossi’ and ‘Yamaha’ instead of ‘Lorenzo’ and ‘Ducati’… Difference being, Rossi had proven to be a Top Class Champion 3 times by then.

I cannot believe this silly Season...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Aug 20 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Exact same words from the end of 2003, just had 'Rossi' and 'Yamaha' instead of 'Lorenzo' and 'Ducati'… Difference being, Rossi had proven to be a Top Class Champion 3 times by then.

I cannot believe this silly Season...

Oh, and was up against Honda, who had won all there was to win by then… Then Big H realized they let go all that Rossi wan afterwards of course.

Hayden stands to be the big winner here. Holy crap if he's throwin' a leg over the M1 next year. Going from an unpredictable bucking bronco to the best bike in the show. He's gotta be smiling right now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Aug 20 2009, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Exact same words from the end of 2003, just had ‘Rossi’ and ‘Yamaha’ instead of ‘Lorenzo’ and ‘Ducati’… Difference being, Rossi had proven to be a Top Class Champion 3 times by then.

I cannot believe this silly Season...
De verdad? I think 2003 Yamaha had more attractiveness than 2010 Ducati. I think you Faithful talk up the switch too much. Yamaha wasn't a bad bike. The 2nd bike classified in the 02 championship was a Yamaha, so please, don't go equating the switch to a Ducati. Minus Stoner, the Ducati is a Suzuki or a Kawasaki, period. In the top 6 end of year classifications, there were three Yamahas and three Hondas. So making the switch from Honda to Yamaha is about like making the switch from Yamaha to Honda today--not really earth shattering stuff.

Switching from Yamaha to Ducati today is more like if Rossi would have switched to Suzuki in 03. And you and I both know that Rossi wouldn't have won in 03 on a Suzuki. Geez, lets not rewrite history. Yamaha was the second best bike at the time, and not that far back. If we had three Ducatis in the top 6, then we could say what you are saying above amigo.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Aug 20 2009, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I would think that to have three out of four of your riders being the same nationality would not be possible for anyone. But then you think about it, the US is a big market and their fourth (not in order or importance, just in order of this list) rider is Valentino Rossi. Any sponsor wouldn't care who the other riders are or where they're from so long as they have Rossi. They obviously want Spies, Edwards is quite valuable for development and I don't think there is anyone more qualified for the number two seat than Hayden.
That's more or less how I feel about it - not something you'd plan from scratch (both having 3 of one nationality and having 3 riders who came from superbikes), but each rider makes a ton of sense individually and the alternatives that come to mind all have their own weaknesses.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 20 2009, 07:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Verdad? I think 2003 Yamaha had more attractiveness than 2010 Ducati.

That can be too because of a longer summer vacation from who was putting 4ths, 3rds and 2nds…

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Aug 20 2009, 05:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That can be too because of a longer summer vacation from who was putting 4ths, 3rds and 2nds…
You're too fast, I edited my post. read it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Aug 20 2009, 04:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I would think that to have three out of four of your riders being the same nationality would not be possible for anyone.

Well it doesn't seem to be the case if you're Italian or Spanish. Gresini has two Italians. Lets not even mention the lower classes. Why not factory Yamaha, eh?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 20 2009, 07:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well it doesn't seem to be the case if you're Italian or Spanish. Gresini has two Italians. Lets not even mention the lower classes. Why not factory Yamaha, eh?
Maybe I'm just trying to keep my homer-ness is check but I feel like three Americans would be different than three Italians or three Spaniards. There aren't many American companies sinking money into the series, whereas there seem to be many Italian and Spanish companies doing so. Then again, the US market is very valuable to the manufacturers. California based Monster already has a pretty big investment in Yamaha at Tech 3, maybe it's not terribly far fetched.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 21 2009, 01:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>De verdad? I think 2003 Yamaha had more attractiveness than 2010 Ducati. I think you Faithful talk up the switch too much. Yamaha wasn't a bad bike. The 2nd bike classified in the 02 championship was a Yamaha, so please, don't go equating the switch to a Ducati. Minus Stoner, the Ducati is a Suzuki or a Kawasaki, period. In the top 6 end of year classifications, there were three Yamahas and three Hondas. So making the switch from Honda to Yamaha is about like making the switch from Yamaha to Honda today--not really earth shattering stuff.

Switching from Yamaha to Ducati today is more like if Rossi would have switched to Suzuki in 03. And you and I both know that Rossi wouldn't have won in 03 on a Suzuki. Geez, lets not rewrite history. Yamaha was the second best bike at the time, and not that far back. If we had three Ducatis in the top 6, then we could say what you are saying above amigo.
Jumkie i have to admit you can come with all kind of crap.I don't know why you are even mentioning 2002 season. Rossi moved to yamaha in 2004 so really you need to look classification for 2003 season in which C checa was the first yamaha rider who finished seventh in the overall standing.

It seems to me you really trying too hard to undermine Rossi's achievements.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (inam @ Aug 20 2009, 09:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Jumkie i have to admit you can come with all kind of crap.I don't know why you are even mentioning 2002 season. Rossi moved to yamaha in 2004 so really you need to look classification for 2003 season in which C checa was the first yamaha rider who finished seventh in the overall standing.

It seems to me you really trying too hard to undermine Rossi's achievements.

I was replying to V. He was making the point that a Ducati switch today is about like saying it was like Rossi's 04 switch to Yamaha. My point was, which you and Talpa consistently miss or just stick your heads in the sand) that the Yamaha was a far better bike than you boys lead on. I imagine you boys might be new to the sport, but here is a news flash. Yamaha and Honda have been trading titles for the past 30 years with only two interruptions: 93 Schwantz & 00 Roberts Jr. (Suzuki). What does this tell you about Yamaha and Honda? It tells me, a reasonable person, that making a switch to either brand doesn't mean much (though you boys try and talk it up like it was). Really, its about the same as saying today a switch from Yamaha to Honda. Big deal. Now here, as I was having a reasonable conversation with V, he made the point that a switch in 04 might be similar in todays terms to Ducati, evidenced by Stoner's success. I'm saying, no, not quite. First of all, Yamaha has won several titles. 2nd, Yamaha was not that far behind a season removed from 03 (as V sighted the end of 03, see his quote below, so naturally I sighted 02, hello, earth to inam, RELEVANCE). 3rd, Ducati without Stoner is more akin to Suzuki (which only through extraordinary effort and circumstances earned a title 93/00). Ducati, never having tasted a championship, won one with and extraordinary rider (yeah, the one you questions as why I thought he was so special).

Well then, if you're going to try and evaluate with such bias that Stoner did nothing extraordinary, and as you do point to his machine, then I think its only fair that I inform you of the truth, that Rossi has enjoyed far more in the way of bias evaluations.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Aug 20 2009, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Exact same words from the end of 2003, just had ‘Rossi’ and ‘Yamaha’ instead of ‘Lorenzo’ and ‘Ducati’…

If both Hayden and Edwards are going to ride for Yamaha next year - I would have thought that it was highly likely that Rossi would have some say in who will get the factory seat alongside him?

Surely it's more likely that Yamaha will give the factory seat to a rider that has been loyal to them for the last few seasons?

I still think a healthy Stoner will be faster on the Duc that Lorenzo.
So what if Lorenzo is mid pack, and Stoner continues to run at the front as per MM and Hayden ???

I wonder if Lorenzo has riden the Ducati.
If not, it is a ballsy move to sign up after MM and Hayden have been unable to make it work.

I think Stoner would be happy to see Lorenzo as his team mate, and Stoner would have to back himself to be faster than Lorenzo.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BlackKnight @ Aug 21 2009, 08:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If both Hayden and Edwards are going to ride for Yamaha next year - I would have thought that it was highly likely that Rossi would have some say in who will get the factory seat alongside him?

Surely it's more likely that Yamaha will give the factory seat to a rider that has been loyal to them for the last few seasons?

You would like to think so but maybe they are looking at it differently (time for more hypotheticals) and seeing Hayden to FIAT, CEii remains and Spies to Tech3. This provides a steady development type workhorse at FIAT (Hayden) who is not necessarily seen as a threat by VR (with due respects to Hayden) whilst providing stability at Tech2 (CEii) as well as the anointed new kid on the block (Spies).

It could well be that Yamaha will show the loyalty you allude to for CEii by not punting him but making him an official team leader/senior and maybe more say within the team that is Tech3.

All hypothetical though.







<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nuts @ Aug 21 2009, 09:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I wonder if Lorenzo has riden the Ducati.
If not, it is a ballsy move to sign up after MM and Hayden have been unable to make it work.

Whilst I agree that it is a ballsy move, these guys do not consider failure and from JL's point, he will succeed pure and simple as were he to consider failure would make him question himself and to be where he is, that is not an option.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nuts @ Aug 21 2009, 09:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think Stoner would be happy to see Lorenzo as his team mate, and Stoner would have to back himself to be faster than Lorenzo.

I do and I don't (nothing like sitting on the fence)

I think CS would prefer to be the team number 1 when it comes to resources and availability of technical upgrades etc, plus he has been the most successful Ducati MGP rider of all time. So to me, CS should get the #1 treatment and thoroughly deserves it. But he won't - that will be Lorenzo's as there is no way he would have gone to Ducati as anything less than #1 (albeit, possibly an 'equal').

But, alternately CS does not like the off track activities and he may well appreciate having Lorenzo in the team as JL does seem to like the media/publicity side.

But all this is based on CS returning to Ducati and talk there has been quiet as I see Ducati's purchase of Lorenzo as a pre-emptive strike and have no dout that they are concerned about Stoner's future.






Gaz

Okay going back to the whole stoner #1 or #2 thing. In his contact wouldn't he have had as part of his deal that he would be #1 rider? I can't understand why he wouldn't have had that in his contact...unless he is stupid.... I also think that if he does become #2 rider then it shows that maybe things with him and duke aren't going very well. There was a rumour saying duke and some sponsers weren't happy with Stoner taking 3 races off. Maybe they would knocking him down to #2 rider as sort of a slap in the face pull your finger out sort of thing?

I read on the MotoGP website that Lorenzo could announce his 2010 plans by next week if not sooner as they are "ticking off boxes and finalising offers" which will end all this silly talk. I think he is moving to duke. I would put money on it!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 20 2009, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No Hayden is a proven #2. He doesnt hav the clout to demand anything, even when he brings home a title. Hes the perfect teammate to anybody needing to be #1. Sadly.

Bonnie, hes got a one year deal, with option for two--at Ducati's leisure.

Thanks for link.



Here is translation of highlights:

Title: Lorenzo reaches a principle agreement with Ducati

Lorenzo has decided to abandon Yamaha and accept the offer by Ducati to align himself as teammate to Casey Stoner in 2010.



Other highlighted sentence: as for Yamaha, it follows that the next teammate of Rossi will be Nicky Hayden.


HOLY .... IF this is true.

Can't resist speculating 2010 scenario in which (pick your reasons) Valentino loses to
Hayden again and Lorenzo struggles like all his predecessors with the Duc.
Now that's a wet dream.