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The Ducati
Marlboro Team have reached an agreement with Casey Stoner to
take part in the 2007 MotoGP World Championship, with an
option for the following year. The start of a new era for
MotoGP, which will see 800 cc bikes taking the place of the
990 cc powered machines, also marks the start of a fresh
chapter in Ducati. Following the
first positive tests carried out with the Desmosedici GP7,
the Borgo Panigale-based team are looking to the future with
confidence and have decided to offer an opportunity to the
talented young Australian. With the benefit of Loris
Capirossi's enormous experience and the support of the
entire team, Casey can now get to grips with the new
technical package that will be made available to him and
fully demonstrate the great talent that he has already
expressed this year on his debut in the top category.
Casey
Stoner: "I am really happy to have been given this
opportunity to race with the Ducati Marlboro Team next
year. Ducati have made a lot of progress in the last
couple of years and I think they can also do a great job
with the new 800. It's a great
privilege for me to be Loris Capirossi's team-mate. I
watched him race before I started my career and now it's
a real honour to be in the same team as him on the same
bike. Finally I'd like
to thank Lucio Cecchinello. We have worked well together
over the years but I feel that the possibility of racing in
a factory team is the best thing for my future."
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Latest test for the GP7: Following September's Japanese Grand Prix victory, the
Ducati Marlboro Team stayed on at the Motegi track
to give to continue development work on the new 800cc
GP7 machine. Loris
Capirossi (above) did the same number of laps, concentrating
mainly on testing braking components, which come
under considerable stress at the Japanese circuit.
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The Ducati Marlboro Team have reached an agreement
with Casey Stoner (above, at the Japanese Grand
Prix) to take part in the 2007 MotoGP World
Championship, with an option for the following year.
He will drive the new Desmosedici GP7 bike in 2007. |
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Claudio
Domenicali (Ducati Corse Managing Director and Ducati
Director of Product Development): "It's always
nice to welcome someone to our large family but it is
just as difficult to say goodbye to someone who leaves.
We are at the end of a season that has given us great
satisfaction but which on the other hand has proved to
have been particularly difficult for Sete. Despite his
devotion and his undoubted talent, a number of factors
have prevented him from obtaining the results to live up
to everyone's expectations. Our heartfelt thanks go out
to him for his commitment and professionalism and we
wish him all the best for his future.
"I am delighted
to welcome Casey to Ducati. He is a very promising rider,
with talent and determination in abundance. We are sure that
with the help of our and Loris's experience, he will get to
know our bike and his experience will mature in line with
the development of the GP7. With his enthusiasm and
aggressive riding style, Casey Stoner is sure to give our fans some
extraordinary emotions, in the best spirit of Ducati."
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