Haga, Fabrizio Back To Ducati
Cycle News Staff | September 21, 2009
The Ducati Xerox team will remain the same for the 2010 World Superbike Championship with today’s announcement that Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio have re-signed with the Italian team for next year.Ducati reached an agreement with both riders last week with the 34-year-old Haga signing up for a second season with the team while the 25-year-old Fabrizio inks a deal that will see him in his third season with Ducati. Fabrizio started with the team in 2008 as a teammate to Troy Bayliss.Haga is currently second in the World Superbike Championship behind Yamaha’s Ben Spies with three rounds remaining.|”I am very happy that this great team continues to believe in me,” Haga said in a team release. “I thank Ducati, the team and everyone that was involved in making the decision. I have a great relationship with my team and with Michel [Fabrizio], and so I am more than happy to stay here in 2010. We don’t yet know how this year will end, but what is certain is that I will continue to do my best, as I do every weekend. Knowing that I have a job for next year will surely spur me on; I will give 200 percent in Imola this weekend, and then if that’s not enough I’ll redouble my efforts at Magny and Portimao.”Fabrizio, who is third in the title chase, is also pleased to be staying with the team.”I’m very happy,” Fabrizio said. “I received confirmation of the renewal the day before my birthday and this news was a great end to the week. I’m currently third in the championship and I’ll continue to give my all in the final three rounds. At Imola I’m going to go on fighting my own battle, and then we’ll see how Nori and I are placed… I’ll perhaps change my strategy for the last two races, if need be, in order to assist Nori. Next year I won’t let anyone get ahead as quickly as Nori did this season and I’ll be doing all I can to be near the top of the standings right from the start of the championship.”
