[MotoGP/WSBK/AMA] 2012 Season - MotoGP entry list revealed

[kals]

Bottom post of the previous page:

I've heard that as well.

[caneparo]

This image is iconic. Valentino Rossi looks like an austronaut just landed on the moon, his head looking at the ground seems like witnessing he's mesmerized by this Ducati he can't be able to ride as he would like to.

[caneparo]

Yamaha offered Rossi a 2 year contract in MotoGP official team, pairing with Lorenzo followed by a contract to ride the factory bike in WSBK. At the end of 2014 season Rossi would test and develop the new Yamaha Superbike.

[caneparo]

According to mixed rumors rossi has already signed with yamaha factory team and ducati will announce the divorce with the italian driver next week

[kals]

And I've read the same but written in a different way. Apparantly Rossi and Yamaha will announce their 2013 partnership next week just prior to the Indy GP.

[DoubleFault]

Sad really. I think Rossi has improved the bike, after all in all the years that Duc has been in the sport, am I right in thinking only Loris and Casey won on their bikes?

I don't see Rossi winning another title, and I think we could see the end of Crutchlows career starting in 2013...

[kals]

Sad really. I think Rossi has improved the bike, after all in all the years that Duc has been in the sport, am I right in thinking only Loris and Casey won on their bikes?

And Troy Bayliss

[caneparo]

Rossi sucked on Ducati, his results have been really very poor and put a big question mark on the italian rider. Even compared to his teamate he sucked, as he wasn't able to perform better thanHayden, a guy he usually destroyed when they both were at HRC

[caneparo]

And I've read the same but written in a different way. Apparantly Rossi and Yamaha will announce their 2013 partnership next week just prior to the Indy GP.

Other source talk of a Jointe press release by Ducati and Yamaha announcing Rossi's future comeback to the Iwata make. The date should be on august 15th

[caneparo]

It s expected today, ducati will announce the goodbye to rossi and yamaha that he signed a contract for the factory team

[caneparo]

http://www.ducati.com/news/ducati_and_r ... 0/index.do

Ducati and Rossi to part ways at the end of 2012
August 10, 2012

As the MotoGP series awaits its return to action for the August 19 Indianapolis Grand Prix, Ducati announces that its working relationship with Valentino Rossi will conclude at the end of the 2012 MotoGP World Championship.
Ducati wishes the Italian well for the new challenges that await him, and in the meantime, the team will continue to give its best effort in order to improve over the latter part of the season.

Racing has always been in Ducati's DNA, and now more than ever, it is integral to the Borgo Panigale company's product development and image. AUDI shares Ducati's strategic approach and agrees with its growing commitment to competition.

Therefore, having recently renewed its agreement with American Nicky Hayden, Ducati is in the process of finalizing the team that will take part in the 2013 World Championship, confident that its team and bike will be capable of competing at the highest level.

I can add that Ducati will allow Rossi to try the Yamaha at the tests in November, after the GP of Valencian community

[caneparo]

Yamaha confirmed Rossi for 2013 alongside Lorenzo

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/182765 ... eturn.html

[kals]

It's bittersweet news really. Vale is a hero to me and has been since I first saw him star in a 125cc race at Donington Park in 1996 or 1997. Winning on a Ducati would have been a crowning glory but it's just been a disaster and I can't help but think that both Vale and Yamaha have realised they are a match made in heaven. But in reality that's a pill that Yamaha needs to swallow after the way they treated Vale through 2009 and 2010.

[caneparo]

I don't agree on this. Rossi and Yamaha have left in good terms, you won't sell me the story that he left Yamaha because he had been treated bad.
Yamaha had the right to think to the future pushing Lorenzo and Rossi could not anymore force the great wall between him and his spanish teamate. That situation was simply going nowhere and Rossi had understood that Lorenzo was becoming too strong and losing on the same bike would have been a real shame for him.
He was wise to move to Ducati but unfortunatelly it didn't match. I'm really disappointed by Rossi. Ducati has always been a tough bike to bring to the limit consistantly and he knew it. He thought he could have turned the Ducati into a bike at his image and resamblance but he wasn't able to do so. I'm not analysing thru all the details but I think that everybody expected more by Valentino, his ability to communicate with engeneers and test bikes. This is a total failure, a lose-lose farewell.

[kals]

I don't agree on this. Rossi and Yamaha have left in good terms, you won't sell me the story that he left Yamaha because he had been treated bad.

It is no secret that Yamaha had been trying to force Vale out for a couple of seasons as they had seen the emergence of a quick (and cheaper) Spaniard. Vale tried to hang on to his seat thanks to the legacy he created at Yamaha. Let's remember and remind ourselves that before Vale and Burgess joined and conquered all in 2004, Yamaha had not won a top flight series title since 1992 with Wayne Rainey. And they had only a handful of race victories in those same 22 years.

The way the Japanese management handled Vale's departure was very poor, a real kick in the teeth for the Italian. They may have ended and parted on good terms, but the previous months (and years) were anything but friendly.

This is a total failure, a lose-lose farewell.

I totally agree.

[caneparo]

Valentino Rossi went to Ducati for prestige, money and ambition, let's not forget this