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Ducati Hints Stoner-Rossi Would Be a Dream Lineup

The “Valentino Rossi coming to Ducati” saga seems to have some new chapters in store for the 2010 season of the MotoGP, as it has become a bit of a controversial topic at the helm of the Marlboro Ducati Team.

According to Italian website GPOne.com, Ducati president Gabriele del Torchio and the team's general manager Claudio Domenicali don't seem to agree on the 2011 lineup of the Italian bike maker. Asked by reporters what is his view on Ducati signing 7-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi for the 2011 season, del Torchio answered “Why not?”

Interestingly enough, it all happened during the very presentation event of the Ducati team, held at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in northern Italy (also knows as the Wrooom). While initially disagreeing with del Torchio, Domenicali did however hint that having a Stoner-Rossi lineup would be the dream of every team manager in the MotoGP.

However, realizing the effect this could have on Stoner's teammate Nicky Hayden, the Italian official insisted that the team would very much like to continue with the “Kentucky Kid” in 2011 also. Hayden's deal runs out at the end of this season.

The most important thing is to keep Casey… Could we live with both Casey and Rossi? That possibility should be put to them. (It would be like having) Maradona and Platini in the same team. The coach would like it!” argued Domenicali for the Ducati official site, but later concluded “We would like to continue with Casey and Nicky.

A couple of months ago, Rossi allegedly gave his team Yamaha an ultimatum for the 2011 season, insisting that he could choose the Ducati way should Yamaha retain Jorge Lorenzo from next year onwards. However, he quickly dismisses this reports, saying that it will be for the team to decide who they want for the 2011 campaign.
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