[Jeff Higgins]

Rossi rides Moto GP, Milt, sorta like the "Formula One" of motorcycles. Purpose built bikes with no production counterparts. World Superbike is supposed to be production based, like ALMS GT racing. It's where the manufacturers show their wares on their street bikes (although it's drifted a bit from there). They are two entirely different venues for racing motorcycles. In other words, Rossi still has a ride next year, and Ducati is pulling out all the stops to make sure it's a championship ride. The reason it is big news that Ducati is pulling out of the production based WSB series is that they were one of the founding marques, and are a kind of Johnny-come-lately to Moto GP. It would be like Porsche dropping GT racing to go into F1.