Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Giovanni Bussei has a two-race deal with Ducati Austin and may or may not continue with the team after Brainerd and Laguna Seca. And the private Yamaha World Superbike team he currently rides for will wait and see what happens before making plans to replace him.

“Giovanni may, or may not, still be riding for us at the end of the year,” said one team source. “But for his own good the team decided to release him for this very good opportunity in his career.”