MotoGP: Ducati, Dovizioso and Crutchlow could leave, 2015 team Iannone, Aleix Espargarò?
Already on Friday at World Ducati Week a first piece of the puzzle could be in place
Tense air at Ducati with a view to the future. During the Sachsenring weekend, various issues emerged and re-emerged, the main one still remaining the exit of Cal Crutchlow, who has a millionaire contract with the Borgo Panigale team and who has an option in his favor which expires in July (the option in favor of the pilot is something that has never been seen until now).
Ducati secretly hopes that the Briton will give up the second year of the contract, which, as mentioned, is onerous and which above all blocks other incoming riders. The first on the list is Andrea Iannone, who yesterday achieved his best result ever in MotoGP (5th place), in a race run with a lot of grit and determination and who throughout the weekend (warm up aside) was the faster than the Ducatisti.
The desire of the driver from Vasto is to go racing in the internal team and he has reiterated this several times. In reality he has always talked about an official company and therefore if he were not to go through the Ducati operation would have opened other doors such as Suzuki or even Honda.
Next Friday at World Ducati Week there will be a meeting that could be decisive. At the moment the parties are still a little distant, but the idea of the men in Red is to keep him and promote him in the internal team.
The latest news is that Andrea Dovizioso may not be there to keep him company, as he has reiterated several times (and also did so at the Sachsenring) that the parties are still far away. Ducati is a gamble, the new bike won't be ready before the end of the year and the man from Forlì wants to think about it carefully. Our sources then said that the problem is also economic, given that Dovi is not at all happy with the treatment he received both this year and in the future offer, especially compared to what Crutchlow perceived.
Aleix Espargarò could take his place, a rider who this year is demonstrating all his value on a Yamaha Open. Aleix is also a protégé of Gigi Dall'Igna, as is Iannone and therefore the official 2015 team could be completely new.
We don't have to wait long, as mentioned on Friday there will be an almost decisive meeting between the Ducati top management and Andrea Iannone's entourage and a first piece of the puzzle could already be in place.
Photos: Alex Farinelli
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It may well be that when it comes to money it is easy to be considered a "mercenary" but I believe that Dovi is right to demand treatment at least equal to that of Cal (half a million more per season) for the simple fact that up to now he has done an excellent job of directing development and is clearly more competitive than his teammate, then there is the possibility that a rider may perhaps decide to embrace a technically difficult cause and demand financial compensation that is a bit more appropriate to the risk; as for Cal, I have to say that he disappointed me... in the sense that I made him more capable on the Red instead... the fact that he has an optionable contract says it all about the "foresightedness" of the Coventry boar... of course with the results that he finds himself, it's not that he's very attractive on the market.. I see him well in Suzuki together with Depuniet.. I think Iannone deserves to have his first experience in an official team and Ducati is the most likely one.. Iannone and Dovizioso would do a couple in addition to the fact that Dovi should at least take the new bike to the track given that it is also his daughter...
I believe that the red is not conducive to a lineup of 2 Italians: Hayden was a good representative of the American market and there were many promotional actions linked to him.
I don't know about Cal, but for the heart the 2 Andreas could fit, and also for Igna, but for the marketing office I don't know...
?
I'm sorry for my Ducatisti friends, but I hope for the abandonment of Dovi and Cal.
Obviously an abandonment from Ducati to arrive at Suzuki.
And here Dovi would find a situation perhaps worse than Ducati, with a bike that is still at sea.
But I hope so.
Iannone, next year will be 100% a Ducati rider, given that the manufacturer (Ducati) has made the option count, it remains to be decided whether in the official team (especially Cal permitting) or in the Pramac team (but followed by Ducati men and with a 100% official bike, like this year in practice).
I agree with Stonami, on an economic level Dovi deserves to get at least as much as Cal (even if he deserves a higher salary than Cal).
as far as Dovizioso is concerned, I agree too... and regarding Cal I had already said at the time that having an aggressive and spectacular ride is not enough to ride the Ducati like Stoner did... and this is told by someone who dislikes Stoner...
muahahahahahha the dovi!! the HRC man!! loser on tiller = 0! what a joke!!
Dovi will stay there, he will find the economic agreement because he is not stupid enough to get on a Suzuki which will be much worse than the current and future Ducati, he will not give up the thought of finally having in his hands a motorbike as good as Gigi's next creation should be , if things go like this year even with the new bike then I see other scenarios open.cal and a big burden and if they don't offer him a Honda or a Yamaha I don't think he will give up the Ducati money for another season... I'm very sorry for Iannone, I hope it won't go like this...
Me too. Who knows, maybe the announcement will come this weekend on WWD