Racing: Motologic denies Ducati switch

The team manager of Oleon Motologic Racing, Paul Free, has reacted angrily to claims the team will be switching camps from Honda to Ducati for the 2010 Australian Superbike Championship.

Rumours have indicated that a deal between Motologic and Ducati was all but done.

“At this stage I can’t confirm or deny we’ll even be racing in 2010,” said Free. “We’re still at least a month or even more away from being able to make that decision – there is nothing signed; as yet there is no deal done,” he added.

If such a switch were to occur, Motologic would need to reshape the entire base of its workshop operations – Motologic is currently heavily biased towards inline four-cylinder Hondas, particularly Fireblades and CBR600RRs.

The fact that Motologic is still considering its direction for next year at least indicates that taking part in the 2010 season appears to still be an option for the Melbourne-based operation. At a time when major motorcycle corporations and racing series are hurting, that’s no small feat.

Although undoubtedly feeling the pinch – Motologic downsized its staffing levels earlier this year – Free told the Bikesales Network that its shop was now inundated with bikes. “Since the warmer weather has arrived in Melbourne business has gone absolutely crazy – at the moment we’re really struggling to keep up with the demands of our customers,” he said.