Should Ducati replace Marco now, and if so, with who? [merged]

It is so utterly painful. It just seems like he's past the point of even trying. Nobody can possibly believe that he is doing his best.

It's too bad that Marco isn't going to replace Hopper. It would be great to see Marco on the Kawa and Sete on the Ducati at a race soon. But something tells me that might not happen.

What would happen if Sete was the one getting lapped and Marco was finishing top ten? Ducati would have egg on their face.

But if Sete hops on the Duc and finishes anywhere in the top 10 and Marco is anywhere outside the top 10 his confidence could be gone for good.

Marco might just be best to take the year off and then hope on a new bike during Winter tests.

Good point Ryan. Getting a flogging on the Kawasaki could totally ruin Marco, but I feel he needs to take the chance. I think the Kwaka would be more suited to him. Sete seems to have adapted to the Ducati, judging by the lap times he posted in testing. The only sticking point for it all to happen is Marco's manager asking for too much money for him to step down, from what I have read. Cut your losses and get out of there Marco, the Kwak is even offering you a third bike for the rest of the season, and the chance of a contract for 2009 if you can get some decent results.

I think Marco will do alright on the Kwak. If they can get the thing to finish a race then I think it has the pace for Marco to achieve anywhere between 5th and 10th finishings(?), similar to where Suzuki are at the moment. I think he would happily take that given how his year has gone so far. Then hopefully Kawasaki continue with this same 3-rider thru 2009 as well.

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Originally Posted by gco0307

Have read elsewhere a translated Italian article which alludes to the fact that the hod-up to the release is MM's wages demands.

Apparently he (through management) wants the remainder of 2008 salary and a percentage of 2009 as a minimum of he is to leave the team.

Garry

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That would be really ugly and could result in Marco deliberately not trying just to spite Ducati. I read the opposite a while back, that Marco might have to buy his way out of his contract

Would there be any more glorious a sight than a renewed Sete on his Duke going mano a mano against Rossi in the second part of the season?

Just imagine if he beat Rossi a couple of times, enough that Stoner beat Vale to the title. I reckon Sete would re-retire a very happy man.

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Originally Posted by jim mcglinchey

That would be really ugly and could result in Marco deliberately not trying just to spite Ducati. I read the opposite a while back, that Marco might have to buy his way out of his contract

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could result in marco deliberately not trying?

he already is deliberately not trying. does anyone think he really is 3 seconds a lap slower than casey? 1 sec or 2 even secs a lap slower is down to comfort level on the bike, i believe, but 3 secs per lap is him simply not racing, just cruising.

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Originally Posted by T-D

could result in marco deliberately not trying?

he already is deliberately not trying. does anyone think he really is 3 seconds a lap slower than casey? 1 sec or 2 even secs a lap slower is down to comfort level on the bike, i believe, but 3 secs per lap is him simply not racing, just cruising.

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Don't think so. Racers don't want to look as rubbish as he does now. Even if he was deliberately slow then I'd think he'd want to be ahead of the satellite team so that people don't think he is that bad. Remember that when he's next looking for a ride it'll harm his chances quite a lot.

many racers have quit trying. some have even parked perfectly good motorcycles (tamada and hoffman last year, for example).

i don't think marco is above that. neither does the suppo. the only reason they are insisting that he stay on the bike is because the lawyers have not worked out a financial resolution that works for both parties.

i find it extremely plausible that marco's -3 second per lap pace is purposely trying to force ducati's hand. the only reason kwack mentioned him as a replacement at germany is because they had an inkling that he'd be available. ducati squashed that. now what we have is a peeing match between marco and ducati. marco wanting out versus ducati's desire to not overpay him while simultaneously firing him.

I'm not convinced that he's deliberately given up/not trying but I think he's so lost on the bike that he's lost that desire and confidence to push to the nth degree and risk his neck which is required to be competitive. Given his speed was already below par it has now compounded itself. As far as finishing up with Ducati, surely he should ask for no more than to be paid out of this year, waive next year :wave: and move on?

Article by Kropotkin from www.motogpmatters.com/ posted 12 July.
That Marco Melandri is unlikely to sit out the 2nd year of his contract with Ducati in 2009 was an open secret. But now, that open secret has become something akin to a public announcement. Alberto Vergani, Melandri's manager, told GPOne.com's Alberto Cani that Melandri will not be with Ducati for 2009. The Italian's contract with Ducati allows the contract to be dissolved by mutual consent with no financial penalty, despite rumors to the contrary. And with Melandri in his current form, there can be no doubt that the consent will be very much mutual.
Vergani had other interesting things to say to Cani. When asked about Melandri's future, Vergani stated that the most likely option for the Italian is a return to Fausto Gresini's satellite Honda squad, where Gresini continues to be a great admirer of Melandri. He confirmed that Kawasaki has also expressed an interest in Melandri, but denied that Melandri could end up on a Kawasaki before the 2008 season is over.
On the question of whether Melandri could quit Ducati before the season is out, Vergani was clear: "Our intention remains to finish the season with Ducati. Marco wants to tackle the problems he's been having, it's a question of saving his honor," Melandri's manager said. This does not mean that Melandri will not leave before the season is out: "That is, if Ducati doesn't have other ideas."
http://www.gpone.com/news/News.asp?NNews=2391 ITALIAN ITEM
Vergani: “Melandri libero dalla Ducati per il 2009”l Sachsenring Alberto Vergani, manager di Marco Melandri, ha fatto chiarezza sul futuro del pilota ravennate: “Ad Assen abbiamo toccato il punto più basso dell’anno, ma la nostra intenzione rimane quella di finire la stagione con la Ducati. Marco vuole affrontare il problema, vogliamo salvare l’onore. – ha spiegato – Se, poi, la nostra volontà non coinciderà con quella della Ducati, ne prenderemo atto”.

Avete vagliato delle alternative, nell’eventualità che la Ducati decida di sostituire Marco dopo il Gran Premio degli Stati Uniti?
“Potrebbe anche rimanere fermo aspettando il 2009”.

Ci sono possibilità che possa accasarsi alla Kawasaki?
“No, non credo”.

Riguardo al 2009, invece, com’è la situazione? Quello che è sicuro è che Marco non sarà in Ducati, è così?
“Sì, il contratto che ci legava alla Ducati anche per il 2009 è stato risolto di comune accordo, quindi senza alcuna penale. Questo va detto per chi crede che Marco sia qui per soldi”.

Quali sono quindi le possibilità in chiave 2009?
“Le ipotesi più probabili sono chiaramente il team di Fausto Gresini, che rimane un grande estimatore di Marco, e questo ci fa molto piacere, e la Kawasaki, che non ha mai nascosto di volerlo con sé”.

Alberto Cani

GOOGLE TRANSLATION OF ITALIAN INTERVIEW (for the sake of accuracy)


"Melandri free from Ducati for 2009" the Sachsenring Alberto Vergani, manager of Marco Melandri, made clear on the future of the pilot Ravenna: "At Assen we touched the lowest point of the year, but our intention remains to finish the season with Ducati. Marco wants to tackle the problem, we want to save the honour. -- He explained - If, then, we will not coincide with that of Ducati, will take place. "

You have explored alternatives, in the event Ducati decides to replace Marco after the United States Grand Prix?
"It could also remain detained awaiting the 2009".

There are possibilities that could accasarsi Kawasaki?
"No, I do not think."

About 2009, however, as the situation? What is sure is that Mark will not be Ducati, is so?
"Yes, the contract that we also linked to Ducati for 2009 was resolved by mutual agreement, and then without penalty. This needs to be said for those who believe that Mark is here for money. "

What are the possibilities in a 2009?
"The most likely hypothesis is clearly the team Fausto Gresini, which remains a great admirer of Mark, and this makes us very happy, and Kawasaki, who has never hidden want with it."

This has came to an anxiety that riders look at their neighbor’s grass is green, Gressini is probably a place for Melandri feels homey than his current home.

Otherwise Kawasaki can provide another bike, they feel that they will always want West to be alongside Hopkins. Going back at gressini might be another option left, Alonso does not find out the same Renault as he ever drove for the win, because some have belief that once you go BLVCK you never come back ;)