Marco Melandri.

[Albert]

The latest rumours surrounding Marco say that he'll be on a Kawasaki in Germany!
Naturally enough Ducati aren't saying much officially other than they want to re-assess things after Laguna Seca -- but the whispers are that Marco's Manager had talks during the Assen weekend and he'll be out of the Ducati contract very soon.
No idea if he'll have to buy himself out of it (don't forget - it was a 2 year deal!) or if it's going to be by mutual consent.
It's not nice to see Marco circulating at the back of the pack - and it must have been demoralising for him to have Rossi catch him, pass him and then pull away on what was essentially a damaged bike!

I just hope (if it's true!) that Kawasaki can help Marco to rebuild the confidence that he's lost! He's too good to be on the scrap heap!

[Steve]

haven't heard this, it's no surprise to hear Marco and Ducati will be parting ways but i thought he would stay till the end of the season and then move onto a Honda. Interesting to see how this progresses, who would take over the Duke seat? Sete?

[Albert]

Sete has told Ducati that he's ready to make a return to MotoGP Steve. (it's all in MCN this week!)

I'd rather they put Nicola Canepa on Marco's bike to be honest - but he's now going to be widcarding in selected WSB rounds!

[Steve]

ah ok, not really a fan of MCN. I would also prefer Canepa to be given a chance. Are Kawasaki gonna run an extra bike or is West or Hopper gonna miss out? (i presume it would be West)

[Shaun]

Interesting info, i too would like to know how Kawasaki would accommadate Melandri. Either a 3rd bike or at the expense of one of the other riders probably Ant West.

[Albert]

The word at the moment says that Marco will use Hopper's bike seeing that John will be out for at least the next 2 races.
After that they're talking about using the test machine for Marco!

[GPFan]

I'm not so sure about the merits of this one. I don't see Sete being able to get that Ducati to perform much better than Marco, maybe a little? And the Kawasaki hasn't exactly been the quickest or most reliable machine. I always fancied Marco to end up on a Honda maybe the Gresini team?

[Albert]

Sete's best times (on race tyres) at the recent Mugello test were only a few tenths off Stoners best race time so he's pretty much in the ball park.
However, doing it in testing is one thing, doing it on track with 17 other guys all wanting to cut you up in the corners and spoiling your racing lines is something else entirely!

At the moment it looks like Marco is being held to his Ducati contract until Laguna Seca.

Like you, GPFan, I thought Marco would return to his old team. Despite criticising the Honda he never burnt his bridges with Fausto Gresini when he left to join Ducati so the option is still there, but would Honda sanction Fausto taking him back? They don't like criticism at HRC!

Don't forget that Kawasaki showed interest in Marco a couple of years back - it may be his best option!

[GPFan]

Rumour is that Chaz Davies may get to replace the injured Hopkins for Laguna Seca, or an American Superbike rider but i forget his name

[Albert]

From what I've been picking up it's likely to be Jamie Hacking, Roger Lee Hayden or Chaz.
They all race Kawasaki bikes so it's a case of "keep it in the family" rather than let an outsider in!

Hope it's Chaz!

[Steve]

Melandri binning it at Germany, looks like the end is nearing for Marco and the Ducati.

[yammy]

poor marco just when you think things carn't get any worse i just hope he can end his misery soon,he deserves better than this his confidence must be utterly rock bottom at the mo and i really feel for the guy.

[Albert]

Marco's manager says that the contract for 2009 has been terminated "by mutual consent" so Marco will definitely be on something other than a Ducati in '09.
They've said that he will see out the remainder of his '08 contract -- but it seems that Sete is ready and waiting to step in.
The expectation is that Marco will race this weekend at Laguna Seca then be replaced for Brno and sit out the rest of the season!

Current talks are with his old Gresini team and Kawasaki. (He'll have to take a big cut in wages I would expect - just as Gibernau was going to have to do when he decided to quit!)