MotoGP Gossip: Ducati, Dovizioso deal hinging on financial agreement?

- Ducati Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti says the team is now looking at retaining its current line-up after missing out on the signature of several targeted riders over the winter. However, he says much depends on coming to a financial agreement with Andrea Dovizioso, who is thought to be chasing a more sizeable salary based on his success over the past few seasons. He says ‘the objective is to reason with the current riders, but in different numbers. After eight years together, it would be nice to be able to continue with Andrea, but it is clear that the economic part could be an obstacle." (AS)

- If Ducati does retain its riders, however, they may not all find themselves in the same place for 2021 with growing rumours that Jack Miller will join Dovizioso in the factory team, with Danilo Petrucci being shifted over to the team’s WorldSBK effort. (GPOne)

- Valentino Rossi’s hopes of getting a few cheeky laps in at the Red Bull Ring as part of a rider technique session were scuppered when he was stopped at the Italy-Austria border after failing to obtain the correct documents to cross into the neighbouring nation. (Speedweek)

- The sound of race bikes has rung out across the Misano Marco Simoncelli World Circuit for the first time in more than two months as the venue hosted a private test sessions for those located in the Emilia-Romagna region. A total of 13 riders were able to hit the track to work on match fitness and try out the new asphalt, including Ducati test rider Michele Pirro and Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori who rode their respective CIV Superbike entries. (Misano Facebook Page)

- Fabio Quartararo scares the life out of his fans – and the Yamaha team – with an Instagram prank demonstrating the perils of cooking for yourself in quarantine. Fortunately, it seems Fabio still has a full complement of fingers… (Instagram)