Marco Melandri is to part company with MotoGP team Ducati at least a year early, the struggling Italian rider's agent Alberto Vergani said on Saturday.
‘The contract that bound us to Ducati also for 2009 has been annulled by mutual agreement and therefore without any penalties,’ Vergani was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.
Melandri has won just 32 points since joining Australian world champion Casey Stoner at Ducati on a two-year deal at the start of the season, leaving him a lowly 14th in the standings.
Italian media have speculated that Ducati may be about to replace 25-year-old Melandri with retired former rider Sete Gibernau after the Spaniard recently did tests for the team.
Vergani also said the former 250cc world champion may not even complete the season with his current team. ‘Melandri might remain on hold waiting for 2009,’ he said.
