Bayliss/Lanzi for Ducati

Ducati has officially dropped James Toseland from its World Sueprbike team for 2006 with Troy Bayliss and rising star Lorenzo Lanzi taking over the two-bike squad next year.

Toseland still hasn’t made a decision on where to go next year, despite already having a firm offer from Ducati to ride as Neil Hodgson’s team-mate in American superbikes.

The dilemma comes becuase the Ten Kate Honda WSB team has also said that if current rider Chris Vermeulen leaves to ride in MotoGP, Toseland would be their first choice.

Bayliss was an obvious choice for the factory Ducati ride having previously won the title for the firm in 2001 and come runner up to Colin Edwards in 2002.

Lanzi rode for the Ducati Supersport team in 2004 and moved up to the satellite SC Carachi Ducati superbike squad in 2005. The 23-year-old Italian really proved his potential, however, while filling in for an injured Laconi on the factory Ducati, taking the win on his first time out on the bike.

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