Ducati Corse, agreements with Rossi and Hayden denied - momentarily

Lapidary and laconic, the press release with which Ducati, in the person of its President, Gabriele Del Torchio, responds to certain statements that appeared in some virtual motorcycle publications and then spread like wildfire on the screens. “Regarding recent news and alleged declarations”: the incipit of the few lines written by the Borgo Panigale company leaves no room for debates of any kind. But what statements do the sharp words refer to?

In essence, just yesterday some statements were attributed to Gabriele Del Torchio himself, Ducati President, which confirmed the hiring of Valentino Rossi and which clarified the structure of the Ducati Corse team for the coming year: Rossi, that is, would join for a Hayden season, who would not have been purged - according to the false declarations of President Del Torchio - on the spot, but who could have been dressed in the red suit again for an internal motorbike championship. Then, who knows.

Some websites, subsequently, had launched into speculations and suppositions on the recalibration of the teams, following the replacement of the riders: Ducati Corse would have welcomed Valentino Rossi, alongside the already present Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner would have flown to Honda, to keep him company to Andrea Dovizioso and the Tavullia champion's place would be taken by Ben Spies. Pedrosa? The only one still without a house to stay in, it seems.

The response from the Ducati President arrives just one day late: “Ducati announces that it has not yet concluded any agreement with the riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden for the next MotoGP season. If and when the agreements are concluded, they will be the subject of an official press release."

Whoever has something to say, speak at that moment - and not now - or remain silent forever.