Marco Melandri has been well aware of the rumours surrounding his future in the Ducati Marlboro team, and has recently addressed them with typical frankness. The former MotoGP World Championship runner-up admitted at Laguna Seca that the choice was in his employers hands as the 2008 season headed into the summer break period, and commented further on the matter in his online diary last week.
Melandri was honest about the precarious nature of his chances of seeing out the season as a Ducati rider, even mentioning the man relentlessly speculated to be his replacement by name as he wrote that `this week will be decisive for understanding if I will be able to end the year in the Ducati seat ?or if (Sete) Gibernau will be there in my place.? However, his spot appears to be safe at least for the Cardion AB Ceske Republiky later this month, with Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo stating that he was anxious to see both of his regular riders on track at Brno and drawing the positives from Melandri?s practice showings at Laguna Seca.
`(At the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix) he showed that he was making a constant effort, just as he did at Sachsenring. He was consistently up with the frontrunners during the practices and warm-up and we're convinced that he has understood how to get the best out of the Desmosedici.?
With a point to prove and ever-present determination, Melandri?s intentions are clear for the remainder of 2008.
`I would like to conclude the season here.? he proclaimed emphatically. `I think that at the last two races I have taken a step forward, and it is possible that we could take another.
`In any case I would like to thank all of the guys in my team, because the first part of the season was as difficult for them as for me. We always worked well together and never lost control or allowed the relationship to deteriorate. For them to take some satisfaction from our work, I would really like to step up onto the podium at least once.?