Rossi to Ducati - Bayliss to Honda!

Well I'm surprised not to see more discussion on this......

it was on the nine network tv news this morning...Rossi to Ducati in '04 for
$15million!! with Bayliss taking his spot in the Honda team.

Mighty interesting for next year - unheard of for number 1 rider on the
number 1 machine to leave for new pastures even withstanding the excellent
debut for Duke this year!!

 

I can't see this happening. Rossi is critical of tabacco advertising and
Ducati are sponsored by Marlboro. Besides, then Bayliss would kick his
butt.

Jeff

 

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/8085/

This is probably where the rumour started and if it is then News
Limited pulled it a long way from what is printed there.

However, that said, I wouldn't mind betting it will happen...

Cheers

Kevin Gleeson
Imagine It
West Hobart
Tasmania Australia
www.imagine-it.com.au

 

We need confirmation. There's nothing yet on the US sites, MotoGP or the
Aus sites. And the Ducati site is currently down for maintenance.

If it's real, I guess we'll know soon enough.

 

Don't sweat Julian.. I suspect it is just some creative journalism...

The possible original 'source' might be here 3rd to last paragraph..

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/8085/

 

There are a lot of rumors about Rossi because he was supposed to sigh at
Estoril and he didn't, but I doubt Honda is interested by Bayliss with
Hayden already in their hands.

 

Unheard of? What about when Lawson took his #1 plate from Yamaha to
Honda in 89?

 

Yes, it makes for great speculation BUT the bottom line is money. I doubt
that Ducati can afford Rossi, what they've done so far is remarkable, I just
don't think they have the bucks that it's going to take to land his
Rossiness, that and the cigarette thing will be a show stopper. No matter
how much animosity he may have for Honda(remember when he walked out of
contract negotiations last time) and yes, being Italian, he probably really
wants to ride the Duc but it always comes down to money. Ducati is in the
"big times" now, if they really want the best,they'll have to dig really
deep to afford the best and make no mistake Rossi is the best, period...

T3

 

You could argue quite persuasively that the man made the machine as
well.

As you could with Doohan.

In both cases, they're work on developing the machine has resulted in
something so relatively user friendly that lesser riders can get awfully
close them. But despite everything, Rossi (with Burgess) still have a
stack of points in hand.

 

I don't think it's a question of how deep Ducati's pockets are, but
rather how deep Marlboro's are.

 

<joke>

Maybe both Rossi and Doohan are crap and it's really *Burgess* that's the
God?

</joke>

-Dirt-

 

Burgess was also the man behind Gardner when he was at his most
competitive also.

 

I felt the same as you do until I watched him break the lap record on the
last lap of the race on shot tires, impressive...That and that fact that in
qualifying he seems to be able to pull a half second out of his ass anytime
it's needed but you do have a point on the ethics angle. I just think that
in the end, not only does Honda have the best equipment and logistics they
also have the deepest pockets. I, like about 20 million Italians would love
to see him on the Duc, I just think it's a long shot at best, we'll
see...OBTW, I didn't mean to imply he was the best ever,I believe he's the
best that's racing right now , granted on the very best equipment also.


T3

 

There were numerous stories about the late 2001, early 2002 period that
the RCV was pretty nasty to ride. It wasn't until Rossi put the R&D and
testing work in that it started to reach it's potential. Now given that
the origin of these stories is Rossi and Burgess and that they
consistently play up their own strengths, you have to take them with a
pinch of salt.

 

Na, na, na... do you want to bet? Rossi goes to Yamaha, directly dealing
with Japan at this moment, probably announced in Malaysia GP if Rossi gets
the championship in that race

 

I read that he was the first to be able to reject and change revisions on
the Honda 500s. He was the one to demand Brembo brakes when Honda insisted
on using their own and so forth. This was a contribution to his success.

"Liftime two-stroke guy"? As a driver you don't need more than som basic
feel for engines to quickly convert from two-stroke to multi-sylinder four
strokes to twin four strokes and visa verca. Again look at doohan and Rossi.
Racing superbikes and endurance bikes never seemed to be a problem, even if
it was only for a race or two in the season.

Only if one asume that Honda had to be miles better than any one else in
developing an exelent four stroke GP bike. To me it rather seems to show the
failings of Yamaha, Suki and Kawa.

Well, you certainly didn't give any evidence to opposite.

/MBE