Valentino Rossi's team manager Davide Brivio looks set to join the
MotoGP world champion in leaving Yamaha at the end of this season.
Rossi is going to Ducati on a two-year deal and while Brivio could also be seen with the #46 in the Ducati pits next year, it looks like it would be as part of Rossi's personal management, rather than as a Ducati employee.
"I wouldn't mind following in the footsteps of Carlo Pernat", Brivio told Italian website GPone.com, referring to the manager of Loris Capirossi, "and I think this will be my future career path.
"An historic chapter is coming to a close at Yamaha, and I wouldn't have had much more to contribute. Nothing is confirmed at the moment, but I have plenty of time to sort out the details about my next job.
"But for now I can exclude the possibility of continuing with Yamaha."
Brivio became director of the Yamaha
MotoGP team in 2002 and played a part in signing Rossi from Honda at the end of 2003.
The Italian already works exclusively for Rossi's side of the Yamaha garage, with 2010
MotoGP title leader
Jorge Lorenzo having his own team manager.
While Brivio looks to be leaving, the future of Rossi's crew chief Jerry Burgess - and his mechanics - is still to be settled.