Ducati boss doubts Loris Capirossi will stay

The man in charge of Ducati’s works MotoGP team says he thinks Loris Capirossi will reject an offer to stay with the team next year alongside Casey Stoner and new signing Marco Melandri on a third Marlboro-backed Desmosedeci GP7. 

Livio Suppo made the offer to Capirossi at the Laguna Seca MotoGP race last weekend, in hope that the Italian veteran will stall on a deal with Suzuki for 2008.

Suppo said: “I really can’t see one more season of Loris with this bike. And also for Loris may be a new motivation is to sign for another company. We are not disappointed that he is speaking with Kawasaki and Suzuki. We don’t want to see Loris struggling with the bike. Already one season struggling with the bike is difficult so we can’t imagine to see two seasons struggling with the machine.”

Suppo said Ducati would only commit to a third bike for Capirossi and they wouldn’t run a three-rider team to lure Andrea Dovizioso. The Honda 250 rider has been linked to Ducati’s factory and satellite teams but Suppo said: “The third factory bike would only be for Loris and this is a big sign of respect for him.”