Ducati deny Valentino Rossi move is done
Ducati have moved to dismiss rumours suggesting they have agreed a deal to sign seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi for next year.
Rumours have been circulating for much of the year about Rossi joining the Italian team and those rumours intensified with the announcement that Ducati rider Casey Stoner will leave to join Honda next year.
However, Ducati have released a statement dismissing the rumours.
"Recent news which has appeared on websites has been misreported and must be attributed to the many rumours circulating lately," said the statement. "Whether and when a deal is reached an official press release will be issued."
Ducati chief executive and president Gabriele Del Torchio had been quoted as saying Rossi would join the team and partner former world champion Nicky Hayden. However, the team has also moved to clarify those comments.
"Regarding the recent allegations attributed to Mr del Torchio, Ducati states that no agreement has been reached with the riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden for the future Moto GP season, although our interest in these riders remains," said the Ducati statement.
If Rossi does move to the Bologna outfit it will be his third team in MotoGP after starting out with Honda and then moving to Yamaha, where he has spent the last seven years. Rossi has won seven world titles in MotoGP - two with Honda and five with Yamaha – and should he join Ducati, his rivalry with current teammate Jorge Lorenzo could reach that next level everyone has been hoping for.
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