Indianapolis MotoGP
Date: 28-29 August
Saturday 28 August Qualifying: 1750-2100, BBC Red Button and Online
Sunday 29 August: 1945-2100, BBC Three

Rossi's announcement of his move from Yamaha to Ducati for next season caused a media stampede

By Steve Parrish BBC MotoGP commentator

We all knew it was going to happen, and at last it has - Valentino Rossi has signed for Ducati.

It is probably the right move at the right time. Rossi felt he was putting in all the hard work at Yamaha developing a bike for them, and they were then giving it a youngster - 23-year-old championship leader Jorge Lorenzo - who was beating the 31-year-old from Italy.

The Italians are already jumping somersaults at the prospect of seeing their man on their bike, and I am glad Ducati have done it, as it adds an element of romance, but we will just have to wait and see how it pans out.

I think this is the autumn of Rossi's brilliant career, which means it a huge gamble for Ducati.

If he wins races, it will be because of him being so good, and if he loses, it will be because the bike has let him down.

Italians are passionate about their product, built in Italy, but they are even more passionate about their man.

At the end of the 2009 season, Rossi gave Yamaha an ultimatum about him and Lorenzo both being at the team, and in a way, with how things have turned out in 2010, it has come back to bite him.

Switching teams 'unfaithful' - Rossi

But he is also laughing because he is probably getting paid much more than Lorenzo is at Yamaha.

And do not forget last year Ducati wanted Lorenzo, which is what unsettled Casey Stoner and started the whole merry-go-round in the first place.

At the moment, the future of Rossi's trusted mechanic Jeremy Burgess is still undecided.

It iis a huge decision for Burgess - he is 57-years-old so has probably got a few more years in him, but does he gamble and go with Rossi, or stay with Yamaha where he will get to work with up-and-coming talent Ben Spies?

Jeremy has got more world championships to his name than anyone else, with the likes of Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Rossi, so it is a tough decision which could come down to finance.

The reshuffle makes it look like British World Superbikes rider Cal Crutchlow is going to get his chance with Yamaha Tech 3.

It is a quick progression for him, but his position is a bit like when sometimes it is better to go to university and get training, and sometimes it is better to go out and get a job and start earning.

He is on the ascending side of his career and is a quick learner, so I think he should make a quick jump rather than potentially get stuck in the quagmire of World Superbikes.

This weekend we are off to Indianapolis, the biggest sit-down sporting facility in the world.

I think it is great for the sport that it takes place at such a prestigious venue, but it can be awkward. There are three or four surface changes, and in the last few years Rossi and Dani Pedrosa have found out it is not the nicest place to ride.

It is a bit cobbled together as it is part oval, part Formula One track and part MotoGP, which means there is major potential for all sorts of dramas, but I am sure people have learnt from past mistakes.

Lorenzo sounds very nervous about his large championship lead, he does not want to do anything silly at this stage.

My Indianapolis race prediction:

1) Dani Pedrosa 2) Jorge Lorenzo 3) Valentino Rossi

Steve Parrish was talking to BBC Sport's Julian Shea.

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