Ducati News Today

Xerox Ducati Team Manager, Davide Tardozzi, has defended a lack of team orders in the World Superbike squad that saw Michel Fabrizio take valuable points away from his teammate Noriyuki Haga in the title chase.

Haga finished the series in 2nd place, just 6 points behind newly crowned 2009 World Superbike Champion Ben Spies, after crashing out and finishing second in the final two races of the season at Portimao, Portugal yesterday. Spies won the first race and Fabrizio the second.

In taking the win at Imola and again in Portimao, Fabrizio took 10 points away from Haga that meant he could have yet been champion even if Spies had finished 4th instead of 5th in the final race. Commenting on the official Ducati blog Tardozzi remarked:-

“Certainly, and we are well aware, that the decision to not stop Michel at Imola could have cost us dearly. But, after seeing how things went, I don’t think that this is the right moment to evaluate that situation. In race 2 today Spies was clearly in control, knowing that he had the potential to fight for the podium but realising that a fifth position would be more than enough to win. One should also consider that Nori took second position during the final lap and Michel could not have known what was happening behind him.”

link: Ducati Official Blog

Ducati seem very pleased with the progress of their Italian racer this season, with Tardozzi pointing out that Michel achieved 15 podiums including 3 wins and 3rd position in the championship behind the two “lions” Ben and Nitro Nori. Ducati promise to be back more competitive than ever next season.

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