According to a March 23 report on Britain’s Motor Cycle News Online, Aaron Slight has signed to drive a Peugeot 406 Coupe in the British Touring Car Championship in 2001 and 2002.

Roadracing World had been led to believe by Ducati North America officials that Slight had agreed to compete in the entire 2001 AMA Superbike series. But in the days following Slight’s arrival in the U.S., it became clear that no such deal had been made. In reality, Slight had only agreed to ride the Competition Accessories Ducati 996, vacated by John Kocinski, at Daytona, and then make a decision whether to complete the series.

Slight was less-than-impressed by race control and operations at Daytona, specifically with the red-flag-causing pace-car incident, Scott Russell’s horrible starting grid collision, and the bizarre AMA rule allowing riders to switch to back-up bikes in the middle of the Superbike race. All of the above contributed to Slight’s decision not to remain in the AMA Superbike series.

Although Ducati North America and both the HMC and Competition Accessories Ducati teams remain officially mum on the subject of replacement riders, it is believed that Mike Hale, Tom Kipp, Craig Connell and Australian teenager Anthony West are at the top of the short list to fill the vacant seats.