The 'non-news' about Valentino Rossi moving to Ducati was finally made official after the Brno Grand Prix. Yes, ever since quote-machine Hervé Poncharal, Yamaha Tech3 manager let slip that his rider Ben Spies was on his way to the Yamaha factory team back in June, the Rossi to Ducati story was a non-event.
Poncharal, whose team is part-funded by series organisers Dorna to ensure some national interest in the Le Mans GP, had two seats available in his make-weight team for 2011, one of which looks set to be filled by Yamaha WSB rider Cal Crutchlow. The other, currently with Colin Edwards, is destined for someone else, since there are strong rumours the popular Texan is heading back to the World superbike paddock.
In any case, Rossi has signed a two-year deal with Ducati to ride alongside Nicky Hayden, as current Ducati rider Casey Stoner moves to Honda. Lord knows the MotoGP championship needs something to make it interesting again, maybe Rossi in red will do the trick.
The story kicked off months ago when, it was alleged, Rossi confronted Yamaha with a 'it's him or me' style ultimatum over Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi's team mate at FIAT Yamaha. Yamaha clearly reckons that Lorenzo is the future and told Rossi he was a free agent.
At which point there was only really one option for Rossi – Ducati. Given that Jorge Lorenzo looks like a cert to win his first MotoGP title this year – he's already won seven races and has a lead of over 75 points – it's not too cruel to suggest that Yamaha is coming out the winner in this saga. Rossi did a fantastic job on the YZF-M1 but if anyone imagines that Lorenzo and his crew chief Ramon Forcada will be unable to keep the M1 near the front of the grid, they're deluded.
