Tardozzi open to offers

Former Xerox Ducati WSB team boss Davide Tardozzi has told MCN that he is open to offers from other factories to continue his distinguished career as one of the worlds most successful team managers.

Tardozzi worked for Ducati as a rider and then team manager for 20 years having clinched the WSB crown with Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, Neil Hodgson, James Toseland and Troy Bayliss.

Speaking to MCN by phone from his home in Italy he said:

“I still had two years left to run on my contract, but in the last two months I felt my motivation wasn’t 100%. I did not want to make any announcement while the championship was still running so I waited until after Portimao.

“As team manager it is my job to motivate the riders, the engineers and the mechanics but I did not feel that I had the right motivation myself to do this.”

Since the revelation yesterday that Tardozzi was quitting the most successful team in WSB history there has been endless speculation over why he is leaving. The rumours vary from him being sacked because of a lack of team orders in this years title fight to that he left because he was not offered Livio Suppo’s job in MotoGP.

He said: “I’ve read and heard the rumours and the speculation, but I can say that this is not true. I spoke with Filippo (Preziosi) on Tuesday night and the Claudio (Domenicali) on Wednesday. They tried to convince me to change my mind but the whole thing has been dealt with in a professional, gentlemanly and friendly way.”

“The reason is because I am looking for a new challenge. I started with Ducati in 1989 and I am making this chance for my own personal reasons and challenge. I am not thinking any new role has to WSB or it has to be MotoGP, but I want to have a relationship direct with a factory. There is no interest in me running a private team.”

There is one scenario that would mean Tardozzi wouldn’t have to look to far to find another job. Current rumours suggest that Yamaha World Superbike team manager Massimo Meregalli has an offer on the table from the Fiat Yamaha MotoGP team. Should he decide to take it, Tardozzi would be well placed to secure the role.

Tardozzi wouldn’t be drawn on the speculation, but said:

“I am happy for Massimo. It would be good for him, but I don’t think it would be good for Yamaha Superbike because he has done a very good job this year.”