VISORDOWN BROUGHT you news last week that Marco Melandri's place in the Marlboro Ducati squad was under threat and that MotoGP veteran Sete Gibernau was set to replace the lacklustre Italian.
The likelihood of this happening is now almost a reality after Melandri's disastrous season with Ducati continued to deteriorate at Assen. While team-mate Stoner has been making hay, Melandri has completely failed to gel with the factory Marlboro Ducati Desmosedici, qualifying and finishing consistently at or near the back.
At Assen, he was banned from talking to the Press by his team; at the same time as rumours gathered strength that he may not even see the year out in the Marlboro colours.
Former team rider Sete Gibernau, twice World Championship runner up to Rossi, is earmarked to replace the Italian. Gibernau lost his Ducati seat to Stoner and didn't race last year, but tested the Ducati at Barcelona after the GP, and is now scheduled for more tests in the coming week. Gibernau himself has put his chances of a late GP return at 55 percent, according to the Spanish Press.
Team chief Livio Suppo acknowledged that it was at least possible. “The situation with Marco is very strange. We must see how he performs at the next two tracks, Sachsenring and Laguna, where he has had good results in the past. We all hope he can finally find the way. But if he is still struggling, it will be very unusual for a top rider.
“We are all so sorry, but sooner or later we will have to serious consider replacing him.”
Gibernau was a prime candidate. “It is no easy to find a replacement at this time of year,” said Suppo. “Sete will test again this week, and we will see if he can be consistent.”
link-http://www.visordown.com/motorcyclenews/view/motogp_melandri_on_his_last_chance/5039.html
The likelihood of this happening is now almost a reality after Melandri's disastrous season with Ducati continued to deteriorate at Assen. While team-mate Stoner has been making hay, Melandri has completely failed to gel with the factory Marlboro Ducati Desmosedici, qualifying and finishing consistently at or near the back.
At Assen, he was banned from talking to the Press by his team; at the same time as rumours gathered strength that he may not even see the year out in the Marlboro colours.
Former team rider Sete Gibernau, twice World Championship runner up to Rossi, is earmarked to replace the Italian. Gibernau lost his Ducati seat to Stoner and didn't race last year, but tested the Ducati at Barcelona after the GP, and is now scheduled for more tests in the coming week. Gibernau himself has put his chances of a late GP return at 55 percent, according to the Spanish Press.
Team chief Livio Suppo acknowledged that it was at least possible. “The situation with Marco is very strange. We must see how he performs at the next two tracks, Sachsenring and Laguna, where he has had good results in the past. We all hope he can finally find the way. But if he is still struggling, it will be very unusual for a top rider.
“We are all so sorry, but sooner or later we will have to serious consider replacing him.”
Gibernau was a prime candidate. “It is no easy to find a replacement at this time of year,” said Suppo. “Sete will test again this week, and we will see if he can be consistent.”
link-http://www.visordown.com/motorcyclenews/view/motogp_melandri_on_his_last_chance/5039.html
