Third Ducati may be reward for Capirossi

The Bologna-based team announced yesterday that Marco Melandri will join world championship leader Casey Stoner next year, adding that Capirossi will meet Ducati representatives to consider a third entry.

The Italian veteran has had a difficult season with the team so far, with just two podiums compared to Stoner's six victories.

But Capirossi's six wins for Ducati in the previous four years, when the squad were not as competitive, have prompted the team to consider rewarding him by increasing their effort in the series.

"We have been thinking for a while about running a third factory bike," team boss Livio Suppo told Italia1 channel.

"So that's no demotion for Loris, who we know has done plenty for us, and that's precisely why we are thinking of this for him and only him.

"With two riders like Casey and Marco it's a strong team, but for everything that Loris has done for us we've been thinking that this is a realistic possibility, and technically we are able to implement it.

"So if we find the agreement with Loris, we'll be happy to do it."

Yesterday's United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca saw Capirossi retiring on lap four with reliability problems, while Stoner dominated the race.

"This is a very nice day for Casey but I'm extremely sorry for Loris, who had a technical problem," explained Suppo.

"Earlier I was talking to the mechanics, and it's something that never happens: a spring in the gear selection broke. It's a stupid thing that should never break and never did before.

"So I'm very sorry for Loris, because he deserved to have a nice race too and to take advantage of his package as he did very well at Sachsenring."