Rossi on a Duc

ccwilli3 · 07-09-2003, 6:43 PM

Well, I've heard him mention it before (about returning to an Italian bike maker), but I always thought it'd be Aprilia...

Looks like it could be Ducati!

jafo · 07-09-2003, 7:00 PM

I am sure honda will not let rossi get away.It is funny,a lot of riders want multiple year contracts for the guarantee,not rossi!Smart kid,every year the manufacturers get to have a bidding war,which ultimately just makes honda step up in the end,good for him,they can afford it!

Crash · 07-09-2003, 7:49 PM

Rossi is smart, but Honda has the cash. Of course he wants to ride for Ducati, as they stated, 'all italians do' Honda will not give him up, unless Hayden steps up and shows Rossi like abilites.

grafixman · 07-09-2003, 8:14 PM

Ducati would have to kick down some serious cash to match the offer Honda will give Rossi. Plus they already have 2 guys signed for 2 years on the factory team.

Maybe in 2005

luvtolean · 07-09-2003, 8:36 PM

How smart is a 1 year deal if you fall off and bust yourself up, then have trouble recovering?

abtech · 07-09-2003, 8:42 PM

my sediments exactly . . .

2OHOH2 · 07-09-2003, 8:57 PM

Quote:

abtech : sediments

You're not that old Abtech

abtech · 07-09-2003, 10:21 PM

Quote:

2OHOH2954 : Quote (abtech @ July 09 2003, 7:42pm)sediments

You're not that old Abtech
That's not entirely true . . .

deez · 07-09-2003, 10:32 PM

He said a few years ago that he'd like to be on an Italian bike. He knows GP history pretty well. Remember that last time he made Honda match his salary and give it to a charity when it came time for his contract. And Honda did it, they aren't stupid. I think this will come down to $ unless Rossi cares for Ducati more than Honda's $. If Honda wanted to play dealer, they have way more $ than Ducati. And the kid comes with sponsors virtually prepaid. He's been doing those Honda cage ads in Europe (someone posted one of them) so he is very valuable to the Japanese. I can say that I hope he does go to Ducati. Money isn't everything, if an American rider had a chance to ride on his home country's machine, and the bike was competitive we'd be really liking that One other thing, the Ducati looks very wild in comparison to the RCV. And I've read Rossi saying that he misses that from the 2 strokes. When he first got on the RCV he said how easy it was to ride comparitively. I've also read that Ducati is to run another team next year. Whether it will be 2 riders or 1 satellite team I don't know. Also, Rossi really pissed the HRC bosses off with him mandating he run #46 instead of #1. Ahh the Japanese and their conservatism
HRC has triples and V6's that they have been rumored to be testing. Al Ludington (sp?) saw V6's being wheeled in and out of HRC before this AMA season started when they were over there to jack with the new 600RR. Rossi needs a change I think. If he stays with Honda they'll keep him on a competitive bike and he'll continue to win and it will be Jordan type run, many fans will get tired of the same o. Many already are. But I don't care about that , I just hope he keeps racing motorcycles.

nomad · 07-09-2003, 10:53 PM

Negotiating tactic. End of story.

G-Force Junkie · 07-09-2003, 11:46 PM

Quote:

2OHOH2954 : Quote (abtech @ July 09 2003, 7:42pm)sediments

You're not that old Abtech
Perhaps, but his lists of past injuries is stunning to say the least.

ratter · 07-10-2003, 4:40 AM

It would be a sad thing to leave honda, but then again imagine him on a duc

Baketech · 07-10-2003, 8:26 AM

Personally, I hope he does go....would be a great combination, one for the books...

gunichan · 07-10-2003, 8:32 AM

For my two cents, I think good on him. It may only be a negotiating tactic but then both have done very well out of each other.

Sure Rossi may injure himself and who will support him? But who cares, he's already had a highly distinguished career. How much more does he need to prove himself?

ccwilli3 · 07-10-2003, 9:43 AM

Quote:

gunichan : How much more does he need to prove himself?

I think getting on the 'priller with edwards would be a good way to prove just how good he is!

SLODUCK · 07-10-2003, 1:58 PM

Rossi will ride Ducati next year and a year after that. Then he will go and ride the F1 car and take Schumaker (however you spell his name) place.