You can’t really replace a rider like Troy Bayliss, but Ducati’s hiring of Noriyuki Haga is a smart move. Haga is not only a great rider, he is a great competitor respected by the paddock and fans worldwide. Many years ago, when the WSB title was denied him because he took ephedra to lose weight, he handled it with class even though it had to be a crushing disappointment.
Besides that, Haga has the riding talent to run with anyone, and he has proven it on many occasions in both WSB and GP competition. He has really matured as a rider, and now he is both fast and consistent.
