La scuderia italiana esercita l'opzione sul 21enne pilota australiano. Suppo: "Il futuro è con lui". E il padre-manager Colin annuncia: "Entro la fine della stagione anche l'accordo per 2009 e 2010"

Evidentemente il quarto successo stagionale di Casey Stoner, il più combattuto e il più bello del team Ducati in questa stagione, deve aver fatto scattare una molla. Secondo le indiscrezioni provenienti dall'Australia, infatti, il direttore del progetto Desmosedici, Livio Suppo, avrebbe già esercitato l'opzione per tutto l'anno prossimo presente sul contratto del 21enne pilota australiano.

BINOMIO VINCENTE - "Abbiamo programmato d'avere con noi Casey anche nel 2008", le parole di Suppo, subito confermate dal padre del pilota, Colin Stoner, pure manager del figlio: "Casey ha rinnovato con la Ducati fino al 2008 e stiamo già parlando del futuro, tanto che è possibile prevedere entro la fine della stagione qualcosa di concreto per il 2009 e il 2010. Entrambe le parti sono contente di lavorare insieme - ha concluso il padre-manager - non vogliamo andare da nessuna parte e la Ducati non vuole che Stoner vada da qualche altra parte".    Gazzetta

In English: Casey Stoner extends Ducati contract

DUCATI have shut down any poaching bids from rival teams with an early extension to Catalunya Grand Prix winner Casey Stoner's MotoGP contract, securing his services for 2008.

And the Italian squad has opened new, long-term talks aimed at keeping Stoner with the flying red team until 2010.

Stoner's immediate future was in place after he won the Catalunya GP, his fourth win out seven races this season.

"We plan for Casey to be with Ducati in 2008," said team boss Livio Suppo after exercising an option on Stoner well in advance of a September deadline.

Stoner, 21, has never hidden his love affair with Ducati, describing the team as a family since joining six months ago and rocketing to the head of the world rankings.

"I don't want to go anywhere else or have any confusion about my future," Stoner said.

And by the end of this season Stoner could have a new and lucrative long term deal in place with Ducati.

Stoner's father and business manager, Colin Stoner, was in Barcelona for his son's latest victory over MotoGP's resident superstar Valentino Rossi.

"Casey has renewed with Ducati for 2008 and we are already talking about the future. I envisage that by the end of this season we will have something concrete for 2009 and 2010," said Stoner Sr.

"Both parties are happy to continue. We don't want to go anywhere and Ducati don't want Casey to go anywhere.''

After watching Casey's ice-cool win over Rossi and Spanish tyro Dani Pedrosa in a tense race in Barcelona, his father added: "This race was a turning point for Casey.

"Everyone saw the real Casey, and what he is capable of, for the first time."

Rossi has already signed for 2008 with Yamaha while Pedrosa, a close third in Barcelona, already has a long term future with the factory Repsol Honda team.

Both Stoner and Pedrosa are 21 and former 250cc rivals while Rossi, not old at 28, is the man with the target on his back.

After seven races Stoner leads the championship on 140 points with Rossi on 126 and Pedrosa on 98 points.

AAP