So it appears that the talented young Mallorcan rider, Jorge Lorenzo, is being offered gobs of money to ride the Desmosedici GP9 in 2010. Internet reports are claiming that it’s a done deal. Former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and MotoGP industry insider, Randy Mamola, seems to think so. Here’s what Mamola stated in his blog on Alpinestars News:

“Next up is Indianapolis and by the time we get there we may well have news of the biggest rider transfer shock since Valentino Rossi moved from Honda to Yamaha. I’m talking about Jorge Lorenzo signing for Ducati and by the time you read this it may have already been announced. My sources in Spain are telling me it will be made official before we head to America and the knock on effects could be huge. Nicky Hayden would be the obvious candidate to replace him at Yamaha but don’t rule out Dani Pedrosa or Andrea Dovizioso, who have not signed deals with HRC despite the bullish claims of their new president at Brno.”

Can Lorenzo ride the GP9 at the same level as Stoner? Different bike, different team, high expectations and a lot of pressure, it won’t be an easy task. Just ask Nicky Hayden and Marco Melandri. And he’ll be in a paddock where he’ll still be the second featured factory rider until he begins posting better results than Stoner. Then there’s the tempestuous beast that is the Desmosedici GP9. Why is it that nobody but Stoner seems capable of taming the stallion? I’d make sure that I put in plenty of laps on the bike before making my decision. But big money can make you a believer.
 
And what about dissension in the ranks? It’s nothing new to Lorenzo. Remember the drawn curtains between the two Fiat Yamaha teams last year due to Rossi and Lorenzo running different manufacturer’s tires? But what about Casey? Stoner brought the MotoGP World Championship title home to Ducati, but now the Italian marque is offering another rider a lot more money than he’s making to come in and race for the team. That’s the biz, I know, but that can’t make Stoner too happy. And where will Nicky Hayden land? Will Yamaha offer Lorenzo’s spot to the rising World Superbike star, Ben Spies, who has already demonstrated that he can win on the YZR? The MotoGP rumor mill churns, and by the end of this week we should know Lorenzo’s plans at least. Check back with Motorcycle USA regularly because as soon as we have the answers we’ll bring you the news.