With VW Audi Group buying Ducati and many of the top rides already secured for 2013, Toby Moody wonders whether Valentino Rossi might stick with the Italian manufacturer, tap into its extra resources and finally turn it back into a winner...

So...Casey Stoner is off back to Australia having fallen out of love with MotoGP. Jorge Lorenzo is staying with Yamaha for 2013 and '14, and Dani Pedrosa has signed an HRC contract as quickly as possible before anyone else takes his seat at Repsol Honda for his eighth season at 'Big Red'.

Furthermore, Cal Crutchlow is toying between staying with Yamaha – either with Tech 3 or the factory team – or going to Ducati. That could also be written; a bike that wins regularly or a bike that hasn't won for nearly two full seasons but may be an enticing option because of its 'financial incentives'. Decisions, decisions...

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