Michael Scott | April 10, 2016
Jorge Lorenzo has signed for Ducati. So said Suzuki team boss Davide Brivio – a knowledgeable Italian GP insider, whose past portfolio includes luring Rossi to Yamaha from Honda, and growing his VR46 brand, now a market leader.
Brivio let the remark slip to Dorna’s cameraman while being asked about rumours that he would lose his star young rider Maverick Vinales in 2017. The 21-year-old Spaniard, a hot property, is understood to have been approached already to replace Lorenzo at Yamaha.
Ducati and Lorenzo remained tight-lipped; the rider stonewalling direct questions; but the rumour mill insisted that the deal was already done, with Lorenzo accepting a big-money offer to switch to the iconic Italian marque.
Rossi declined to comment, beyond a reminder that the current iteration of the Desmosedici is a much better bike than the one he moved to, when he stomped out of Yamaha at the end of 2010.
Vinales surprised listeners when he welcomed the extra pressure of the speculation and uncertainty. “I think it helps me to focus and be faster,” he said.
The knock-on effect kept tongues wagging, half-a-season before the who-goes-where speculation usually begins.
The second Ducati seat is in doubt: it was reported that plans to renew Andrea Iannone’s contract before the start of the European season had been put on hold after his last-corners blooper in Argentina, taking himself and team-mate Dovizioso out of a guaranteed double podium.
Both of the Ducati pair’s names have been linked to a Suzuki move to replace Vinales; while the experienced and knowledgeable Dovizioso would be a valuable addition to KTM’s new team, alongside Bradley Smith.
Moto2 champion Johann Zarco is also a potential target for both Suzuki and to replace Smith at Tech 3; while Alex Rins is also a strong contender for a Tech 3 seat, with a view to a future move to the factory Yamaha team.
Meanwhile, Rossi denied rumours that he was going to bid for the single vacant slot on the MotoGP grid next year. “I have spoken with Carmelo [Ezpeleta – Dorna CEO], but we have no plans. Anyway we hope to have a one-rider SKY VR46 team in Moto2 next year.”