Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Ducati's Options For 2006 A n ad-hoc question-and-answer ses/"'\sion with Ducati Corse Superbike director Paolo Ciabatti at the Dutch round of the World Superbike Championship turned into a feast of infor- giving mation for those intent on knowing the rent riders could stay in shape of Ducati's racing plans in 2006 in both a global and national sense. Although the entire riding lineup is clearly not set in stone yet (although Neil Hodgson is definite in AMA Superbike), several points the technicians accurate feedback." Although Ciabani confirmed that there is a possibility that both his cur- Confronted with the question of Eric the Xerox factory squad in 200S - and also that a possibility exists tihat neither of them will - he tihinks a third option is most likely. "It is very unlikely that both our riders will stay Bostrom's intention to stop racing for the for next season and it's a Ducati Austin team, Ciabatti admitted that he was not riding for Ducati in 2006 and said: "Eric told me that he struggles to ride the bike. There are races where he's been unbeatable, but then other days he cannot understand why he cannot go fast. We are waiting to see what GSE want to do. We would like them to stay with Ducati in either World Superbike or British Superbike. This will be decided in the next few weeks and could have an impact on the riders that might be available." With Bostrom out, it leaves a big and important hole in Ducati's Superbike strategy, more than just the American tactics. "In principle, [Gregorio] lavilla would be the perfect choice for America," Ciabatti mused. "He knows the bike, he knows the Dunlop tires, and he's proved this season that he can be fast on tracks that he has never seen before. I believe that the English tracks are similar to America, so if he can go fast in British Superbikes, he would be a good choice for AHA Also, a lot of areas of the USA speak Spanish, so he would be the perfect choice. On the other hand, I know that Gregorio is working very well with the GSE tearn and that Colin Wright and Darrell Healey are very pleased with how the relationship is developing. I think from Gregorio's point of view, he has some unfinished business in World Superbike, and it is his aim to be on a competitive bike in this championship. Gregorio would be one of my options for the factory team, but if GSE come to World Superbike, then they would want to retain Gregorio. They have a good working relationship, so I think they should keep him, and I would not want to disrupt something that is obviously working. "However, if GSE stayed in British Superbike and Gregorio didn't want to, he would be a possibility for our factory World Superbike team," Ciabatti added. "He is a rider that has proved to be very fast on a 999 and we will find a solution for him to stay on a Ducati in 2006." It seems that Ciabani has been more than impressed by lavilla. possibility that both riders could leave," he said. Replacements? Troy Bayliss? "I think Troy is hungry for race wins," Ciabatti said. "He knows that he will not be racing for many more years. I know that he wants to prove himself in MotoGp, but he doesn't have the Who will ride for Davide Tardani and the Xerox Ducati opportunity to be topfive every weekend. I vide all the material and they provide all the know he doesn't like being the worst Honda logistics, because we cannot afford this - we alongside [Makoto] Tamada. I'm sure that he are too small. We want to do it and have is considering the possibility of coming back four strong Ducatis on the grid, and we to Ducati, but we will have to wait a few accept the risk that sometimes our satellite more days. He is not the type of rider tihat team will be beating us. It has happened wants to take the money and not be combefore, and sometimes your best friend can petitive. I think he would rather come back be your worst enemy. It is important for to a championship where he has enjoyed a Ducati to be winning as many races as poslot of success." sible and scoring points for tihe manufacturBayliss may be a good bet, but he is headers' championship." ing toward tihe end of his career, and Ducati He added a note of caution to tihe equalneeds to find and keep good young riders, footing concept as well. too. Asked about this, Ciabatti stated, "If you "We have a responsibility to Xerox as our want a young rider then you look at lames sponsor, so we would always like our bikes [Toseland] - he is one of the strongest young to be winning races wherever possible," he riders in the championship." said. "This is part of the game, and we accept Another clue, or just a comment on a it. We are also fully aware of tihe desire of specific question? Ciabani simply does not Darrell and the sponsor to be in a poSition to know yet, or so it seems. be able to challenge for the title. Now we "We will make a decision after lausitz," were cleared up - and some directions as to near-future moves were not. "He is one of my favorite riders," Ciabatti said. "He is gening more and more competitive, and he is very technical. He works hard, and he works witih passion. This is good for a tearn because he is very clear on a technical side and is capable of he said. "The extra race is not the reason for need to reach an agreement on the financial this, we know if riders are good or not and one good result or one bad result will not make a difference. Four races will give us side of it, as we simply cannot afford it. Now I will outline a package for them, and I think we'll get a decision pretty quickly. We don't sell enough bikes to pay for a second team, which is why we need a team who can provide an acceptable amount of support tihemselves. We need a team who is prepared to invest their own money, and in retum tihey will get the possibility to win." Ciabatti acknowledged that GSE is exactly the kind of tearn to partner Xerox at a high level. "When GSE started the season, I tihink there were a lot of people in British Superbike saying that they would not win one race," Ciabatti said. "Now we are leading tihe championship, so people are tihinking tihat the I-year-old Ducati is not such a bad bike." Crucially, a choice of ride,-,; does not seem to be one fix in any possible mix. more information to make our decision and we aim to have contracts signed before we arrive at Imola." GSE Racing, leading the British Championship with lavilla and with proven winner Leon Haslam on board to boot, seems keen to come back, if the tearn's sponsor Airwaves is up for it and if they can find the balance of the budget internally. But one key element of the team's desire to come back to World Superbike has been the need to have the very best equipment. It seems tihat tihat is now no longer a problem, in a surprise answer from Ciabatti. "If we can reach an agreement, then we would give them the same level of bikes as the factory tearn," he said. "We cannot provide a second factory team where we pro- 10 SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS team in 20061 "If tihey come, then we would need a high level of support," he said. "But we do it to have four strong riders on tihe grid, but we will not dictate wihat riders they have. They would like to stay with Gregorio and Leon, which is fine by us." If GSE leaves tihe British series tihere is one problem: Who replaces this team in the prestigious UK series? No discussion as yet, but when asked about his "old" BSB tearn - owned by Paul Bird - Ciabani stated: "If GSE were to come to World Superbike, then I would be more tihan happy if Paul Bird's tearn used Ducati again in British Superbike." Questioned as to whetiher or not Shane Byme has asked for a job yet, Ciabatti acknowledged that he had been in contact with him. "Shane was a rider we had in our plans in 2003, and we liked him a lot," he said. "We wanted to sign him for America, but after agreeing in principal, he went to Valencia and got a ride in MotoGP. So after two years in MotoGP, we would now look to tihe current Ducati riders tihan Shakey. I think there are other riders that have been loyal to Ducati who deserve a first option. I don't hold anything against him; he had the choice to go to MotoGP and get paid more money. MotoGP is a very tough world, and if you are not there at the right time on tihe right bike, then it can be very detrimental to your career. I tihink he is still a very fast rider, but he does not have so much experience on World Superbike tracks. He is a rider that we liked very much, but two years have passed since that time. Right now, he is not on our top-fove short list. Honestly speaking, I would not change lames [Toseland] for Shakey. Why would I?" Gordon Ritchie

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