Silly season in MotoGP seems to be over because key player Cal Crutchlow has finally signed, and Yamaha Tech3 has replaced him with Pol Espargaro, but there are still several rides that are up for grabs.
There have been rumors regarding a return of Marco Melandri to the series, that Jonathan Rea would like switch to MotoGP and Scott Redding still has to make a decision, and the big question still remains of what the highly popular Nicky Hayden will be doing next season.
If in MotoGP the situation seems to be winding down a litte, the situation in World Superbikes is still wide open, with only Tom Sykes having a signed contract for next season, and BMW’s decision to pullout at the end of the season has left Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies without rides, so finding a spot on the 2014 will be at a premium, even for MotoGP riders looking to switch to WSBKs.
During this past weekend’s World Superbike round at Silverstone, Ducati Alstare boss Francis Batta talked to Sportmediaset about the current situation in his team, including his rider line-up for next season.
Regarding the current situation on the development of the Ducati 1199 Panigale, the Belgian team manager said,“We are changing things, but nothing revolutionary.
We are continuing step-by-step, and we hope to reach a good result before the end of the season, and by that I mean a win.
Regarding the engine, it is difficult to find changes that can give us more power.
We’ve tried different settings, even radical, but not modifications, sometimes they worked well, other times less well.
But when I speak of changes, I mean more horsepower, more speed, so you can stay in the top 5 places in the standings.
” “We hope something new will arrive.
I know that in Ducati the are working a lot, but times are tight.
We do a race, then another and now the holidays have arrived, and after that we restart again with one race after another.
At the end of the season, we’ll evaluate the situation.
”Pressed on the riders line-up for next year and the actual possibility of Carlos Checa remaining with the team (Checa wants more guarantees of a competitive bike) Batta has some pretty clear ideas:“Obviously we’re talking about it, but we have not even signed anything.
I still think that Carlos is one of the top 5 .
.
one the top 3 riders currently in Superbikes.
I’d prefer to keep Carlos rather than taking a rider who comes from MotoGP, because he can’t find a ride in MotoGP.
”The not so veiled reference is regarding Nicky Hayden.
The American will be out of ride at the end of the season replaced by Cal Crutchlow, while Paul Ciabatti, Ducati’s MotoGP Project Manager, would like to keep the loyal American and have him ride in World Superbikes.
Batta also ruled out a possible return of Marco Melandri on a Ducati, after his controversial experience with the Italian manufacturer in MotoGP in 2008 (he was sent to a sports psychologist and his two year contract was rescinded).
“The choice of the first rider is agreed on with Ducati, and I haven’t put Marco on my list.
If Marco arrives, he comes with a whole his crew and this would disturb the balance of our team.
If the rider is alone, then you can talk, but if he has his crew … It is not that if you get a new rider, then you have to change the whole team … He has always done this, so I suppose that would be his request.
”
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