While all the teams in the Grand Prix world were on planes today to return home after this first event of the season, Ducati Corse remained in Losail to run Casey Stoner in private tests, following the small problem of forgotten regulations...
According to our colleagues GPone, the sessions were not very productive, partly due to scattered rain which covered the Losail circuit. Unfortunately, and despite sessions lasting until 21 p.m. local time (19 p.m. in France), the weather forecasts are not at all optimistic.
This leaves time to discuss…
But on this side either, the time is not for optimism regarding the possible replacement of Danilo Petrucci by Casey Stoner in Argentina and the USA.
Paolo ciabatti: “At the moment, there is not much to decide. Stoner has not expressed any desire to race, which is why we are already reviewing the schedule of Michele Pirro who should have tested in Valencia next Wednesday and Thursday. Eventually, we will cancel these tests and Michele will replace Petrux on the two trips across the Atlantic. But we must wait until tomorrow; Maybe Casey will change his mind. ”
Here, Casey Stoner said he didn't get an offer, today Ducati says Stoner has expressed no desire to race; by beating around the bush like this, either communication is really bad at Ducati, or they are the masters of 'teasing', or it looks very much like a “no”!
Edition at 20:10 p.m.: This last hypothesis also seems confirmed by the latest Tweet from Sky Italy: @Official_CS27 #Stoner: “Non Non ho intenzione di replacement @Petrux9 nel Gp di Argentina.”
Pity…
