Capirossi Back to Ducati
MotoGP’s older statesman, Loris Capirossi, has finally decided to put 3 dismal seasons on a Rizla Suzuki behind him and return to Ducati for the 2011 season where he will race for the satellite Pramac team. The announcement which has been expected for some time means there will now be two Ducati mounted Italians in 2011 (the other being one Valentino Rossi).
This year was the first year since Ducati entered MotoGP in 2003 that an Italian didn’t race for the factory (the last was Nicolo Canepa). 37 year old Capirossi will be returning to the manufacturer that he tasted considerable success with, winning 7 races for the factory Ducati squad and finishing 3rd in the 2006 title race. Capirossi is clearly thrilled to be putting the uncompetitive and somewhat unreliable Suzuki behind him.
“This return to a Ducati bike makes me feel like a child. I do not feel my 37 years!” said Loris. “I have a great desire to start this new adventure, I’m enormously pleased about this new agreement that was reached with the Pramac Racing Team, this will allow me to ride and be part of an Italian Team. I would like to thank the Team Principal of the Pramac Racing Team, Paolo Campinoti, for giving me this great opportunity and for the confidence placed in me. I’ll find again the Ducati, with which I had very good results over the past years and that I was able to develop in the 2007, this is an unique sensation for me.”
link: Yahoo! Eurosport
2011 will be Capirossi’s 14th season in 500cc/MotoGP, during which time the former 125cc and 250cc world champion recorded a total of nine wins, 42 podiums and 13 poles. Randy de Puniet could be Capirossi’s 2011 team-mate, with present Pramac rider Aleix Espargaro tipped to step down to Moto2. Mika Kallio who had a disappointing second season with Pramac this year has already left the team and is being replaced by leading World Superbike Ducati punter, Carlos Checa, for the last two races of this year.
Checa recently set the fastest time during the first day of World Superbike testing at Aragon before flying out to Estoril for this weekend’s penultimate MotoGP race of the 2010 season. Although Jorge Lorenzo has been crowned champion, there is still a race for 2nd in the title between Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi.
If you liked this post please consider becoming a Fan of Ducati News Today on Facebook and Following us on Twitter.
Want More?
Read More Posts like this in our MotoGP category
Try These Related Posts:
He should reitre