Hofmann to d'Antin

[aardvark]

Crash.net understands that the Pramac backed d'Antin Ducati team has signed former Kawasaki rider Alex Hofmann and 2005 Yamaha WSBK rider Jose Luis Cardoso to form its 2006 MotoGP line-up.

Hofmann controversially lost his factory Kawasaki seat to MotoGP rookie Randy de Puniet for 2006 - but the popular 25-year-old, whose best finish from 31 Kawasaki starts was eighth, made clear his intention to stay in the premier-class and had also been linked with riding a KTM powered WCM next season.

Meanwhile, after several seasons in the lower GP classes, Cardoso moved to 500GP from 1999-2002 - the last two years of which were spent with d'Antin Yamaha - and also took a best race finish of eighth.

The Spaniard then dropped from the GP stage, but victory in the 2004 Spanish Formula Extreme championship helped seal a DFX Yamaha WSBK ride for 2005. However, several heavy accidents saw the 30-year-old complete only a partial season, from which he claimed three points-scoring finishes.

Hofmann and Cardoso will both be riding 'updated' versions of the 2005 spec Ducati Desmosedici next season, on Dunlop tyres.

The signings spell bad news for 2005 d'Antin rider Roby Rolfo, who is now thought to be considering a switch back to the 250cc class.

Former WCM rider James Ellison had initially been linked to the Spanish team, but the Briton now looks all but certain to ride a Dunlop shod Tech 3 Yamaha.

[Barrabob]

well if biaggi winds up on a kwacka and hoffman rides around him i will eat something distastefull.

He had plenty of time to do something mr hoffman and we are still waiting so no great loss and good luck to him on a ducati, who knows??