[sportrider - latest stories] - Rossi/Ducati marriage on the rocks?

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Rossi/Ducati marriage on the rocks?

Valentino Rossi apparently starting to lose patience with GP12 development after dispiriting 10th place finish at QatarDucati Corse is in full crisis mode after nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi lashed out at the factory after riding to a dispiriting tenth place finish in the Qatar Grand Prix.

“We cannot be competitive,� he said. “I cannot ride this bike. I cannot make a difference, even keep pace with (Nicky) Hayden, against whom I could go fast.�

Rossi made his comments immediately after the race to a correspondent for Mediaset, an Italian broadcaster after saying very little Italian journalists. His comments in English were very brief and later sent out as his official quote in a press release that was distributed after 5:00 a.m. local time, more than six hours after the race.

Even before he arrived in Qatar, Rossi knew it was going to be a difficult start to the season. The Ducati Desmosedici GP12 isn’t fully developed and changes that he’d requested won’t be ready for some time. Which means the rider expected to revive Ducati’s fortunes is languishing among riders he shouldn’t be racing against. Pramac Racing Ducati’s Hector Barbera is one of them. Barbera forced Rossi off track on the fifth lap, dropping him two spots and costing him six seconds.




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