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| Dovi headed for WSBK? Stranger things have happened... |
While Nicky Hayden 100 per cent denied he had any thoughts of going to World Superbikes in 2013 should Ducati not re-hire him, Andrea Dovizioso said the exact opposite. The Italian told his native media that if he didn't get a factory ride, meaning Ben Spies' bike, he would be looking at alternative experiences outside of MotoGP - meaning WSBK.
The Monster Yamaha man is a bit miffed that Yamaha only seem to be considering Spies as a serious choice with Valentino Rossi as an outside bet. Maybe it's justified, given Dovizioso has stood on the podium in the last three races and Spies, erm, hasn't.
Speaking of Rossi, his manager Davide Brivio has flatly denied there are any talks going on for his boy to re-join Yamaha in 2013. Brivio, himself an employee of the firm until Rossi made the switch to Ducati, says The Doctor is waiting to see what Audi come up with in terms of guarantees that Rossi will have a not-shit bike next season and can return to being competitive.
Cal Crutchlow didn't get to sign a Ducati contract at Mugello as half the world was expecting. He said there were some hold-ups at the Bologna end. Ducati America recently revealed it had sold about one billion bikes in the last year, so maybe they want a good ol' boy on the Desmosedici… All will be revealed when Rossi makes his mind up, no doubt.
In more Ducati almost-news, Scott Redding is increasingly frustrated with his size mattering. The Gloucestershire rider was once again battered into submission in the Mugello Moto2 race because he weighs about 20 kilos more than the rest of the jockeys in that class. He is hoping his team owner can negotiate a satellite GP13 away from either the Caravan Club or the Pacemaker squad next season.
Italian journos, as they do, have been linking Toni Elias with Gino Rea's Moto2 ride after the young Londoner didn't get in the points at Mugello and the Spaniard split with Aspar on Sunday night. Rea's boss U, Fatso Gresini said he was going to have to make some decisions regarding the future. Rea told us by text that he hadn't heard he was in the frame for being replaced. Good, we replied.
When asked what he thought of the Bridgestone tyre fiasco, Herve Poncharal waved his arms in the air, rolled his eyes, said 'Paf' and nipped off for a cheeky Pernod et Boursin cocktail.
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