1. Melandri is out

2. Sete is too old, Ducati has never shown any need for a Spanish rider and they don't need him to be a tire tester for Stoner (ala Edwards to Rossi last few years)

3. Ducati aims to have the US be their biggest market so they need an American rider

4. While they need an American rider they shouldn't want a head to head competitor to Stoner in the paddock - but they do want someone who will keep Stoner honest (that certainly isn't Melandri or Gibby - they ain't American anyway) but Hayden could be a distraction and besides Hayden already passed on his shot to ride the Duc and Italian memories are long

5. Hayden, the widely speculated successor, did not show well on the pneumatic and see point #4 re. competition in the paddock - although he is American, but

6. Spies is not committed to any team right now - and showed well so far - the Suzuki is, well, not total crap but it ain't no Ducati

7. Spies wouldn't be a head to head competitor to Stoner for at least a year or two, but would keep Stoner honest in the meantime and be respectable

8. Spies would pull in the American market - he has strong consumer awareness and the right personalty - American's want fresh blood in MGP anyway(look at all the attention he has garnered already and he hasn't spent hardly any time at all in a MGP seat (and the current Americans aren't getting it done)

9. Ducati does not need a rider who can bring sponsorship with him which Spies can't so not a problem

10. The Ducati MGP machine appears from all account to be closest in feel to a superbike so it might suit Ben just fine

you threw a lot of stuff against the wall, but i'm not sure all of it stuck.

i give you an "A" for effort, but i must knock off a few points for questionable reasoning...

DamattaSpeed - 24 June 2008 10:02 PM

you threw a lot of stuff against the wall, but i'm not sure all of it stuck.

i give you an "A" for effort, but i must knock off a few points for questionable reasoning...

I'm ok with that assessment ... so which parts do you think slid down the wall?

i think you threw a couple of them up there twice and gave both attemts their own number as well

i'd be curious to see ben on a duc

i'd like to see rossi on a duc. even though it will never happen.

spies would be interesting, however i feel as if hayden or gibernau is a more likely scenario. gibernau maybe being the most likely of the two.

I am betting Spies goes to zook for at least 2 years. Suzuki spends alot of money on him here in the states and I am pretty sure they want to keep him in the family.

I said he might go to Ducati a long time ago. However, I truly believe Nicky is already signed up with Ducati for '09.