Here’s yet another rumoured possibility: Alvaro Bautista, the 23-year-old Spaniard who is currently fourth in the 250cc world standings, could partner
Casey Stoner in the Marlboro Ducati line-up in 2009. Or Bautista could ride with Ducati’s 20-year-old tester Niccolo Canepa in the Alice Ducati team.
Mika Kallio, the 25-year-old Finn who heads the 250cc championship on a
Red Bull KTM, is another name being linked to discussions with Marlboro Ducati.
Over at Rizla Suzuki, things appear calmer.
Loris Capirossi is likely to signal his continuation on the GSVR800, as is the Australian
Chris Vermeulen, who was rumoured to be threatened by the possible arrival of AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies into
MotoGP.
Friday am - Jorge Finds Strength Through Reading
Jorge Lorenzo is an avid reader of self-help books. Now he tells me that the latest volume that he has used to help him through this turbulent season in which he briefly led the world before plunging into a welter of crashes, is
Facing Fear, Finding Courage: Your Path to Peace of Mind, by Marilyn Shroyer and Sarah Quigley.
No kidding! You would think that a 21-year-old who has hobbled from a wheelchair to race a 205mph Yamaha YZR-M1 with two fractured ankles would not need guidance on confronting fear.
But Jorge is a fascinating guy, who is constantly seeking to improve his performance and evolve his personality. It’s not that he wants to dissipate all thought of fear.
"We are nothing if we don’t have fear," he told me. "It helps you to survive."
"We have to learn to face up to fear, to gain in self-confidence and transform fear into courage," the book instructs.
Those of you seeking inspiration before your next track-day outing can buy the book (
Afrontar El Miedo, Hallar El Valor, for the benefit of
Crash.net’s Spanish-speaking visitors) for as little as 33p on Amazon...
Friday am - Could Sete Slot in at Alice Ducati?
Sete Gibernau will take over Marco Melandri’s ride on the Marlboro Ducati for the remaining seven MotoGP rounds of the year from the Czech Republic event on August 17, but may race in the Alice Ducati satellite squad in 2009. The vacant Marlboro Ducati seat for ’09 could be taken by
Nicky Hayden, who would abandon his Repsol Honda livery to join the Italians.
