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MotoGP
MOTOGP: Preziosi Out At Ducati?
Rumors suggest that Filippo Preziosi is destined to be replaced as technical director at Ducati.
Ducati Team's Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi, and Monster Yamaha Tech3's Cal Crutchlow (Photo: Ducati Corse)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Grand Prix of Valencia will air LIVE on SPEED on Sunday, November 11 at 8:00am ET. MotoGP QP will air LIVE on SPEED2 all season long. #MotoGPonSPEED
If well sourced reports in the Italian media are correct, Ducati Corse General Manager Filippo Preziosi is set to be axed in a management shakedown by new owners Audi.
Preziosi appears set to carry the can for two winless seasons despite the high-profile presence of seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi.
As speculation mounted in advance of Sunday's Valencia Grand Prix, there was no official word from Ducati.
But informed sources say that Audi are unwilling to tolerate a continuation of the embarrassing losing streak by the Desmosedici bikes designed and built with Preziosi as technical director.
Rossi and teammate Nicky Hayden have not won a race for Ducati and even at Valencia continue to complain of understeer as a major problem -- an issue that has remains unfixed after two years.
As the rumors swirled after qualifying Ducati closed ranks, with Rossi and Hayden briefed to be cautious about adding fuel to the speculation.
Rossi, whose defection back to Yamaha next season has helped make Preziosi's position untenable, claimed no knowledge of the rumors.
“I don’t know if it is true," Rossi said. "Filippo has said nothing to me about this and maybe they are just rumors. I will race with another bike and another team (next year), so I am sorry for Filippo. I know him very well but it is not my problem.”
Hayden also said the speculation was news to him but he may face the prospect of working with a new technical boss at Ducati next year if the reports of Preziosi's departure are confirmed.
“I’ve just heard that," Hayden said after qualifying. "You hear so many rumors but I didn’t hear it inside Ducati and as far as I know there is no truth to it.
"It is just a rumor and I don’t want to say this or that, but I have a good relationship with Filippo and he has done a lot for Ducati. I would think it would be hard to replace a guy like that."
Ducati has not won a world championship since Casey Stoner's stunning 2007 title in the first season of the 800cc engine limit.
If well sourced reports in the Italian media are correct, Ducati Corse General Manager Filippo Preziosi is set to be axed in a management shakedown by new owners Audi.
Preziosi appears set to carry the can for two winless seasons despite the high-profile presence of seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi.
As speculation mounted in advance of Sunday's Valencia Grand Prix, there was no official word from Ducati.
But informed sources say that Audi are unwilling to tolerate a continuation of the embarrassing losing streak by the Desmosedici bikes designed and built with Preziosi as technical director.
Rossi and teammate Nicky Hayden have not won a race for Ducati and even at Valencia continue to complain of understeer as a major problem -- an issue that has remains unfixed after two years.
As the rumors swirled after qualifying Ducati closed ranks, with Rossi and Hayden briefed to be cautious about adding fuel to the speculation.
Rossi, whose defection back to Yamaha next season has helped make Preziosi's position untenable, claimed no knowledge of the rumors.
“I don’t know if it is true," Rossi said. "Filippo has said nothing to me about this and maybe they are just rumors. I will race with another bike and another team (next year), so I am sorry for Filippo. I know him very well but it is not my problem.”
Hayden also said the speculation was news to him but he may face the prospect of working with a new technical boss at Ducati next year if the reports of Preziosi's departure are confirmed.
“I’ve just heard that," Hayden said after qualifying. "You hear so many rumors but I didn’t hear it inside Ducati and as far as I know there is no truth to it.
"It is just a rumor and I don’t want to say this or that, but I have a good relationship with Filippo and he has done a lot for Ducati. I would think it would be hard to replace a guy like that."
Ducati has not won a world championship since Casey Stoner's stunning 2007 title in the first season of the 800cc engine limit.
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