Gresini slams Ducati's 'lack of respect'

Ducati announced immediately after the United States MotoGP that they had signed Honda Gresini's Marco Melandri for next year.

"That Marco was going to leave was obvious to everyone," Gresini told Motosprint magazine.

"What I can't stand is the way it was announced. Ducati have been after me for four years; this is the second rider they take away from me. Well, never mind that," added Gresini, refering to Sete Gibernau, who rode for Ducati last year after the Spaniard spent three years at Gresini's team.

"But at least they could have shown a bit of respect. By contrast they did it behind my back, without telling me anything. They behaved badly.

"It was an arrogant demonstration of strength. When they are faced with Honda, Ducati behave like the little guys, while with me they behaved like the big guys."

After heavily criticizing the world championship-leading team, Gresini expressed his disappointment specifically at rival team manager Suppo.

"And besides, one thing is the company, another thing is who represents it on the track, someone who should understand these things," added Gresini.

"I didn't behave this way with them at other times. Livio Suppo knows what I'm talking about.

"For three years he hasn't done anything but coming after my riders, and that's acceptable, but the announcement out of the blue, without telling me anything about it, is not.

"It was a serious case of lack of respect. He doesn't even know what respect is."