Luis D’Antin steps down as Ducati boss

Spaniard Luis D’Antin has stepped down as boss of the Alice Ducati team with immediate effect.

D’Antin is expected to make a statement later but it has been confirmed he resigned after the Dutch GP in Assen and is no longer with Ducati’s satellite squad that runs Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli.

MCN understands the decision was taken for financial reasons, but the team will continue operating, with Pramac boss Paola Campinoti taking over the running of the squad.

Campinoti co-owned the team with D’Antin, who was running Ducati’s satellite squad for the fifth season. Prior to that he’d formed his own team back in 1997 and he first entered MotoGP in 1999 with the late Norick Abe taking a victory in Rio and on home soil in Suzuka in 2000.

Campinoti is believed to want to continue running the team and has targeted current 250GP leader Mika Kallio and impressive Ducati test rider Niccolo Canepa as leading targets for next season’s line-up.

Ducati recently confirmed talks with current KTM rider Kallio. Alice has a contract for 2009 to be title sponsors of the squad.