Art like this one of Rossi on a Ducati have been popular Photoshop efforts all over the web in recent months.

MOTOGP
The latest buzz in the world of MotoGP is that Valentino Rossi is almost certain set to join the Ducati Marlboro Team alongside American Nicky Hayden in 2011.

That’s what much of the Italian press is reporting this week as rumours out of Silverstone are spreading that half of the Ducati crew have been told to search for new jobs for next year, the first real hint that Rossi and his team of Jeremy Burgess and co. are turning red in the new year.

Is it on the money? To be honest it’s always difficult to tell until one of the main players say it on the record, and Burgess didn’t give anything away during his guest appearance on ONE HD during last Sunday’s British GP telecast.

But there’s no doubt that the Rossi to Ducati saga has reached boiling point this week. And since Yamaha is struggling in the financial department, as many of the manufacturers are, they’ll be finding it increasingly harder to match the payment demands of both Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo – especially if the latter goes on the win the title this year.

So where would this leave Aussie Casey Stoner? He’s poised to switch to Honda after a crash plagued season to date, but as Michael Scott reported in this week’s AMCN, a Red Bull-backed satellite team isn’t out of the question.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa is the key in Spanish oil company Repsol’s sponsorship deal with HRC, while you can’t argue with Italian Andrea Dovizioso’s consistent podium form that sees him sitting second in the title at this point.

That leaves Stoner in a separate factory team with Red Bull backing, a deal that may be linked in with Honda becoming the motorcycle supplier for the 2011 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

I would say that particular scenario regarding Stoner greatly depends on the form of Dovizioso, and Repsol’s sponsorship requirements, as the current season progresses.

Reports say that American Colin Edwards is basically a done deal to replace Rossi on the factory Fiat Yamaha team while he’s recuperating from a broken leg, with Edwards’ Tech 3 satellite seat likely to be filled by Yamaha test rider Wataru Yoshikawa. If that doesn’t happen, expect Edwards to stay put as Yoshikawa takes over the factory gig.

As for who would replace Rossi next year if he were to skip town to Ducati, Edwards’ impressive fellow Texan and current teammate Ben Spies is almost a shoe in after his breakthrough podium finish at Silverstone last weekend. Watch for him at Assen this weekend, a track that he’s familiar with from WSBK.

WORLD SUPERBIKE
Italian Max Biaggi has emerged as the dominant man in this year’s World Superbike title chase, somewhat of a surprise performer as he consistently gets the job done on Aprilia’s RSV4.

The question is at this point whether Leon Haslam can bounce back for Suzuki after leading the series early on, but the Ducati riders will be pushing hard in the home track of Misano for the Italian manufacturer.

It’s been a rough time of late for the Aussie contingent, but BMW’s Troy Corser still has podium potential, while Chris Vermeulen and Broc Parkes fight against their equipment and injury woes.

I personally can’t wait to see Josh Brookes in his wildcard effort at Silverstone on his BSB HM Plant Honda, especially since it’ll be a brand new circuit for the WSBK contenders since its revision and Brookes won the Superstock 1000 support races at last weekend’s British GP. This is definitely his time to shine on the World Superbike stage.

AMERICAN SUPERBIKE
American Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Blake Young has been ruled out of the Mid-Ohio round of the AMA Superbike Championship after it was revealed he broke his back in a testing crash at Barber earlier this month.

After undergoing testing and a CAT scan, it was determined that the 22-year-old Wisconsin native fractured the L-1 vertebrae in his back. Young is now relegated to a soft body cast to aid in the healing process.

That leaves him out of action for the Mid-Ohio round on 16-18 July, which could in turn open up the door for reigning ASBK champion Josh Waters to make an early debut in the AMA.

Waters was a solid fourth quickest during the Barber test in his first AMA test, impressing all on hand and possibly contesting the race in Alabama on a third GSX-R alongside Young and Tommy Hayden this September.

However the injury to Young could tempt the team to call on Waters for duty early, so watch this space to see if it happens. Suzuki-contracted Daytona Sportbike contenders Danny Eslick and Martine Cardenas have also been speculated as possible replacements.

A quick text to Waters last night confirmed he’d like the opportunity to race, although he hadn’t heard anything from Suzuki in the States about the round at that stage.

AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS
This weekend will see the 2010 Rockstar Energy MX Nationals resume at Albury Wodonga in Victoria this weekend, as the business-end of the season approaches with just three weekends of racing remaining.

Defending dual champion Jay Marmont has been the ever-consistent contender once again for CDR Rockstar Yamaha this year, however he’s desperate to get a round win under his belt as the final rounds wind down.

Between Marmont, JDR Motorex KTM’s Tye Simmonds, Honda privateer Dean Ferris and Kawasaki’s ex-World Motocross race winner Billy Mackenzie, there’s no doubt that this title’s going to go down to the wire.

Don’t forget that Cougar Bourbon Honda’s Todd Waters will be back to full fitness this weekend after recovering from collarbone surgery, and he’s been out at Bourke training with Simmonds, who is also coming back from a broken bone in his foot.

Macarthur’s Appin complex has been pro-rider central in recent weeks as they work on their hardpack techniques, and the big rumour is that the club’s new race track could be on the cards to host a National in 2011. You heard it here first. Reports from the guys out there putting in the laps is that the club has been working hard on prepping the main track of late, so head out there and check it out!

Don’t forget, this weekend will feature a concrete start, which will add another element to what is already a spectacular season so far this year.

Finally, our Ringmaster Images contest to win your very own set of custom graphics is winding down, the winner set to be announced this weekend. All you have to do is explain your dream graphics in this story that you’ll be directed to if you click right here and you’ll be in the running.

AMERICAN MOTOCROSS
Here’s a quick shout out to Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps, who suffered a nasty injury at Budds Creek weekend. According to his Twitter, Millsaps “ended up losing my whole kidney, broke my thumb, broke ribs, bruised ribs, bruised lung and that’s it.”

We’re glad to hear he’s out of hospital and recovering, and he also explained what happened in the crash: “Had a rough weekend, hit neutral off the face of a jump and that’s all I remember.”

That’s all for us this week, as usual thanks for reading and be sure to check back for more moto coverage at its best for the remainder of the week and over the weekend as we’re coming direct from the MX Nationals.

Marmont will again maintain the red plate heading into this weekend's MX Nationals round in Victoria.