Re: '06 Xerox WSB team

Mark N wrote:
T3 wrote:
Mark N wrote:

On the other hand, I doubt what Ciabatti said regarding Chowse is what someone would say just prior to signing him. The reality was that D'Antin didn't want to lose Rube last year and if he had been willing to stay he would have. And Ducati has never been totally wild about him, from what I've read, not really wanting him to get that seat last year in the first place, preferring that he go to Austin then. So I think it's somewhat unlikely that they'd backpedal and hire him now.

I respect the guy who told me this back at VIR,(?) he said the ride was Reuben's if he wanted it, but that had a lot to do with his current girlfriend and "if" she was still in the picture when things went down, whether she is, or isn't I have no idea...

So Ducati told Xaus the ride is his if he wants it, and his wanting depended on his continuing relationship with some bimbo, and they were willing to happily wait months to see? This for the guy who was 1.5 seconds slower than MGP rookie Elias this morning and 0.5 second slower than Vermuelen, who has all of three hours on the bike? Yeah, I'm buyin' into that one...

It came from Dave,(and Dean too, IIRC?) maybe they just want him out of MGP, I do not know, hmm, actually I think(?)I remember someone saying something about them being engaged, for whatever that means. Anyway, I'm just telling you what I heard, even though it was after a bigass steak and waay more than just a few Hienys and Brandy too.(I was fractured, those guys drink that crap like water!)

The logic on Toseland would be that he's run Dunlops before, he's got experience with the bike and the factory, he's teamed with Hodgson before, and he speaks the language. If it's not Toseland then I would think probably B-Boz, who did good work for them here in '99, or just maybe Kurtis R. Laconi seems unlikely to me, as would some hard-core Euro. Byrne seems like a possibility, though.

Makes sense to me too. I believe Ben would be a better choice for maybe quicker results, but swapping Bro's probably won't get it, but if Ben doesn't get an offer soon in WSB, it could happen. Laconi, or Roberts IMO would be a drag...

Ben and Eric aren't the same rider and Ben has shown some ability on a Ducati in the past, and did well matched up with Hairy Medley at V&H. But he's a question mark in general. Roberts would be interesting to me only in that I do think he has ability, he did win on a big twin before, and he'd get along famously with Neil, for sure...

In reality, just what has he done since '99, sure he won some 'Guna's. but what else? Hmm, damn near ran away with the 200, nope, that was Eric, hmm, what *has* he done? (asking you is like asking Goggle, I'm sure I'll find out more than I need/want to know) Oh yeah, he ran up a few/bunch of WSB wins in a row, but what has he done (for us, or the US) lately? I'm sorry, but after that day in R/A when he ate a 1/4 mile of soggy Ga. clay just after Miggy put the inside move on the Goshow, he only said, wow! I was less than impressed...(although his eyes were still crossed so maybe I should give him a break, or not!)

My hope is Toseland, because I've like the guy when I've talked to him at Laguna in the past, and I think he's a decently talented and hard-working rider, but I'd be fine with Byrne as well. Anyway, I agree, if it's a non-American they better get ready to have their back packed something fierce...

I don't know much about him, or Shakey for that matter, except he owns one of those empty titles, ala Hodgson. A limey assault on AMA SB would be "interesting" to say the least and I'm sure would keep the group "lively!"

Dunno about that - Julian hasn't had much to say about the AMA since declaring last December "That'll be the Mat, Miguel and Neil show then, with Zemke as the spoiler". Of course my response was, "As I've said before, I give Yates and Spies as much chance of challenging Mladin as the Honda boys, but I'm not at all convinced the Ducatis will be in it yet. But Mat is still the Man, surely as much as Rossi is in GP." But then, I have no idea what I'm talking about, of course...

Oh, stop it! You know It will probably get us both plonked, at least once! Though I believe you are full of *** about Capi, his tires would never have gone the distance no matter how he ran in QP, but that's a different thread, even though I feel the time just might be right for an upset... 

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