Hodgson Out Because Bayliss Says So?

[Sith]

Was snooping around Neil Hodgson's website (club-hodgson.com) and he states his hopes to secure a ride with Ducati in WSBK were dashed because Bayliss doesn't want a competive team mate. And amazingly enough Ducati Corse backed up Bayliss' wishes. I don't get it. What happens if Bayliss crashes, gets seriously injured, and is out for the season? Is Lanzi going to pick up the slack? And how many millions does it take to field a WSBK ride? Makes more sense to me to obtain the services of the best rider available. And who the hell cares which Ducati rider wins as long as one of them does. Hell, the chances are much better finishing 1/2 in races with the Bayliss/Hodgson combo also. This is really sad for Neil. I guess he turned down a ride with Suzuki in WSBK on just the chance to stay loyal to Ducati. Makes me wonder where Ducati Corse's loyalty lies. Hell, Neil won them the WSBK championship in 2003. What the frack is goin' on here?

[bevel450]

Originally Posted by Sith

Was snooping around Neil Hodgson's website (club-hodgson.com) and he states his hopes to secure a ride with Ducati in WSBK were dashed because Bayliss doesn't want a competive team mate. And amazingly enough Ducati Corse backed up Bayliss' wishes. I don't get it. What happens if Bayliss crashes, gets seriously injured, and is out for the season? Is Lanzi going to pick up the slack? And how many millions does it take to field a WSBK ride? Makes more sense to me to obtain the services of the best rider available. And who the hell cares which Ducati rider wins as long as one of them does. Hell, the chances are much better finishing 1/2 in races with the Bayliss/Hodgson combo also. This is really sad for Neil. I guess he turned down a ride with Suzuki in WSBK on just the chance to stay loyal to Ducati. Makes me wonder where Ducati Corse's loyalty lies. Hell, Neil won them the WSBK championship in 2003. What the frack is goin' on here?

Loyalty ? What is that ? Nice concept but often misapplied in modern business which this is. BTW, I think Neil is a fabulous guy and seems to be getting the shaft. But do you really think he is getting a worse deal than James Toseland did ?

Remember what he was told after taking the WSBK championship for Ducati ? They said, in essence, "thanks for the championship, but it was supposed to be Laconi that won it and not you". Slammed the door in his face.

Neil and James are top talents but you need more than that to stay with a winning team, and most of these things are not under your control anyway.

[trid741]

Obviously, we don't know the full story (neither does Hodgson I suspect), but bear in mind the Italians (and the Ducati WSBK team and managers) in general are very emotional. Bayliss is an emotional guy. They are very attached to Bayliss, he has won 2 world championships for them, plus the last MotoGP race of the year! Laconi was also a favorite, he speaks Italian fluently, got on very well with Tardozzi. I think Toseland's and Hodgson's northern English "Yorkie" style and demeanor were not great fits in that "family" team atmosphere, that's all. These guys live together nearly all year!
Rgds
Richard

[Sith]

Granted, Italians are an emotional sort but if this is how they run the "business" I'd hope they have some talented Italian riders coming up through the ranks fairly soon. Not that '06 was easy for Bayliss but I seriously doubt the competition is going to be standing still this off season (remember Biaggi is in the fray next year) either. It still makes more sense to me to obtain the very best talent available. The bottom line in this business should be winning; I don't care what accent the rider speaks with. Further, between the way Corse makes their racing decisions and the ho hum oh well attitude Ducati has regarding timely parts support for their customers it's a wonder they remain in business at all. Don't get me wrong, I love the bikes, but they really try my patience sometimes.

[trid741]

You want my Ducati MotoGP/WSBK conspiracy theory? Stoner hurts himself early in the season, Bayliss will take his place, they'll get another rider for WSBK (you choose, doesn't matter), they write off the WSBK season until '08 or later when they can come back and trounce the opposition with a bigger motor, they concentrate on winning the MotoGP championship. Like it?

Rgds
Richard

[bevel450]

Originally Posted by trid741

You want my Ducati MotoGP/WSBK conspiracy theory? Stoner hurts himself early in the season, Bayliss will take his place, they'll get another rider for WSBK (you choose, doesn't matter), they write off the WSBK season until '08 or later when they can come back and trounce the opposition with a bigger motor, they concentrate on winning the MotoGP championship. Like it?

Rgds
Richard

I have the same feeling about Stoner....don't know why. But I do disagree with your thought of them quitting. They would have to give back too much money to their sponsors that is already spent !

[John]

Originally Posted by Sith

Was snooping around Neil Hodgson's website (club-hodgson.com) and he states his hopes to secure a ride with Ducati in WSBK were dashed because Bayliss doesn't want a competive team mate. And amazingly enough Ducati Corse backed up Bayliss' wishes. I don't get it. What happens if Bayliss crashes, gets seriously injured, and is out for the season? Is Lanzi going to pick up the slack? And how many millions does it take to field a WSBK ride? Makes more sense to me to obtain the services of the best rider available. And who the hell cares which Ducati rider wins as long as one of them does. Hell, the chances are much better finishing 1/2 in races with the Bayliss/Hodgson combo also. This is really sad for Neil. I guess he turned down a ride with Suzuki in WSBK on just the chance to stay loyal to Ducati. Makes me wonder where Ducati Corse's loyalty lies. Hell, Neil won them the WSBK championship in 2003. What the frack is goin' on here?

If this is true about Bayliss, my opinion of him just went in the toilet. It seems so out of character for him to do something like that. Hes going on 38 and talks like hes the elder statesman of road racing, yet he can still go around in circles pretty damn fast. What, does Bayliss consider himself the older lion in the pride? I think at his stage in his career he would welcome the best rider available for the team. Hodgson, with his talent and personality is perfect for the job. He is or was a very loyal Ducati racer. I met him at a sport bike night a couple years ago when he was teamed with Eric Bostrom. Great guy and an asset to the sport. If I were him I would tell Ducati to shove it up their emotional ass and rotate. Bevel is right about Ducatis loyalty in citing Toseland's case. Hell, it kind of happened to Bayliss in MotoGP, they dumped him. But then again, it is a business.

So that is why they kept Lanzi, eh. I wondered about that after he had a crap year for which I attribute two early high sides that shook his confidence for the remainder of the season. I had high hopes for him after the 05 season, but if the above is true then it makes sense why Ducati rehired him. What, to be a whipping boy bringing up the rear so Bayliss can have all the sunshine and glory for himself? Hodgson, Toseland or even Xaus should have had Lanzi's bike in 07. I hope for Lanzi's sake he roars back and rides to his fullest potential. This sucks.

[Maximus-Speedicus]

I'm biased but as previously said, there are always 2 sides to these things. I wish Neil Biaggi the best for 2007.

Mal

[Sith]

Well, as they say what goes around, comes around. If Neil hooks up with someone in WSBK I'll be rooting for him to thump the Ducati's (don't care if I am a Ducati fan). Individual intregrity of the riders goes a long way in my book. Neil Biaggi...gimme a break.

[kingsnake1650]

You guys dont think that Ducati turning Neil away might have something to do with his lack luster performance in 06? Do you?