There have been rumours floating around for several weeks about the possibility of MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo ditching Yamaha and moving to Ducati, reportedly after being offered a huge pay packet.
According to the rumours, Lorenzo and the Ducati MotoGP team have come to a verbal agreement for the current and three-time MotoGP World Champion to switch to Ducati in a two year deal from next year. The deal is expected to be announced in a few weeks at the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez.
Reports indicate that Ducati's offer to Lorenzo could well be one of the largest contract offerings in MotoGP history - speculated at between 11 million to 20 million Euros.
(Jorge Lorenzo)
The reason for Lorenzo's switch from the best bike in the paddock is - of course, a fat paycheck, but also pride and legacy - a move to Ducati is the only way to prove Lorenzo is one of the best in history and - better than Valentino Rossi.
Rossi, on his part, spent two difficult years at Ducati in 2011 and 2012 before returning to Yamaha. And he has already predicted that Lorenzo will end up staying at Yamaha instead of gambling a switch to Ducati.
"To sign with Ducati, you need to be brave, you need big balls. So I think Lorenzo stays with Yamaha," Rossi had earlier said.
(Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi)
Ducati however has, so far, refused to confirm any such move, with Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti saying it's too early to decide on the team's 2017 riders.
"Other teams are also talking to our riders. It's quite normal at the moment. Obviously we wouldn't be doing our job properly if we didn't look into the possibilities," Ciabatti said in the paddock after last weekend's Argentina MotoGP.
"This doesn't mean there is any contract signed. Everyone is talking like we have already made our decision and signed a contract but this is not the case. It's still a little early. Not early to discuss, but early to decide. We are not in a super hurry. It's only the second race. Let's say that exploring the possibilities."
Ducati's last victory came in the 2010 Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island, at the hands of Casey Stoner. If Lorenzo is to make the move to Ducati, then one of the current Ducati riders will have to make way - either Andrea Dovizioso or Andrea Iannone. It's likely that Iannone will stay, but he started the 2016 season with disaster - crashing in round one at Qatar and taking out teammate Dovizioso at the penultimate corner in Argentina last week.
(Rossi on Ducati)
The Yamaha bike may suit Lorenzo the best, but riding a Ducati, at least the current bike, has its advantages and an opportunity like never before. The current Ducati Desmosedici GP bike is at its best, and could well be the fastest in a straight line.
Rossi could never win on a Ducati and his two years with the Ducati Corse team has been the lowest in his MotoGP career. If Lorenzo does move to Ducati, and manages to win on it, the Spaniard will certainly be elevated to legendary status in MotoGP - right up there, next to Rossi's.
