Ducati to up involvement in satellite team

By Toby Moody and Steven English

Friday, July 18th 2008, 18:51 GMT

MotoGP's second Ducati team are set for an overhaul next year with the factory at Bologna taking more of a hands on, day to day role in their running.

The Pramac satellite team is running Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli on customer Ducati GP8s this season in the first of a three year deal to lease bikes from Ducati Corse.

Ducati's Livio Suppo says the technical back-up received by the Alice-backed Pramac outfit will remain the same for the rest of 2008: "Nothing really different from where it is now."

In a move that shows the Bologna manufacturer is keen for the customer relationship to flower, he added: "I'm personally taking care of speaking with the riders and the sponsors. The deal is still in the hands of Paolo Campinoti (Pramac CEO) as he has a three-year contract and we are very happy with him."

But the two-year sponsorship deal that was announced in Valencia last year between telecommunications company Alice and the D'Antin squad may change and it is rumoured that Red Bull could take a stake in the team.

"There is an option for Alice but because it is an option it's not sure," said Suppo, "we are looking around."

When asked whether the rumours that the sponsor could be Red Bull are true, Suppo said: "Hopefully."

If Red Bull were to become involved, Mika Kallio may well step up from the 250cc class into the satellite team as he is a long-time Red Bull sponsored rider.