[Ducati] WARNING ..... OBC (only bike content)

[vduc]

Good points.  My guess is that Ducati would probably have made the same
decision even if they waited until the end of the season.  Again in my
opinion WSBK should be more important to Ducati with a new bike coming out,
and Bayliss is the man to get that job done.  Bayliss's win was great, and
proves that with the right equipment he's one of the best. 

Having some young blood in both classes is a good thing for Ducati. Stoner
being the next Xaus in the crashing sense rings too true.  I'm sure Rossi
had that on his mind the whole time behind Stoner...

Vito  

> -----Original Message-----
> Behalf Of Jones, Dennis
> 
> Shortly after the end of the Valencia MotoGP race, I was wondering to
> myself what Ducati might do in the way of rider signings and assignments
> had they been able to wait til the end of the MotoGP season to set its
> lineup.  I suppose I realize that every team wants young talent
> matriculating behind seasoned riders, so teams are out signing the likes
> of Pedrosa, Melandri, Stoner, Elias, etc.  However, after Troy Bayliss'
> performance at Valencia, might the best team for Ducati's MotoGP effort
> next year be Capirossi and Bayliss?  Considering the riders with Ducati
> experience that are currently languishing out there, could Ducati then
> have signed Hodgson to ride for Ducati WSB and pair him with Lanzi (or
> someone else)?  It would seem that it would result in a talented Ducati
> WSB team and a likewise talented MotoGP team.  Bayliss is probably more
> likely to win a very competitive 2007 WSB than Hodgson, admittedly, so
> it may amount to what has the highest degree of importance to Ducati,
> WSB or MotoGP,
> 
> Unless Stoner changes his spots, he's proven to be a crasher and
> equipment trasher in his years in 125, 250, and now MotoGP.  And,
> judging from the interview with him in Roadracing World(?), he's not the
> least bit apologetic about binning bikes or being aggressive to the
> point of being danger to other racers.  Guy reminds me of a new
> generation Reuben Xaus.  I hope I'm wrong, as there are things to like
> about Casey Stoner, but so far he's been a bit of a trainwreck.  If you
> think that Hayden and Rossi and Pedrosa weren't keenly aware of where
> Casey Stoner was in that Valencia race, considering his reputation, you
> simply weren't paying attention.
> D.J.