After reading this article and the one they posted on Cycle News (
http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=3126) I can't tell you how incredibly pissed off I am at HMC Ducati, especially Mitch Hansen. What a ****!!! He knew damn well what he was planning on doing after Daytona, why else would he show up at Daytona without a contract for Picotte for the 2002 season? Here is a quote from the article on Cycle News:
"I never talked to him [Hansen]," Picotte said today. "He never returned my phone calls after Daytona. I'm really, really, really surprised. I thought he [Hansen] was special, a really kind man. I thought he had a lot of passion for racing and I thought the chemistry between us was really good. We had good tests, I worked well with the engineer they sent over from Italy. We went to Daytona and I kept hearing from them that I was the right person for the program. I missed the front row by a 10th of a second and he [Hansen] hugged me and told me how proud he was of me."
If Hansen would have talked to Picotte, like a MAN, and sat down with him and explained the situation I wouldn't feel the animosity I now feel for his program. How crappy you would feel if you were fired from your job (especially after your s***** bag boss told you what a great job you were doing) but the boss didn't even have the balls to tell you in person? Instead, he just had the secretary do it or sent you out a notice over email. That just straight up STINKS!!! It's all about how people are treated and how situations are handled and to me, HMC Ducati just plain spit in Picotte's face.
Another thing, what the hell was Picotte's manager thinking letting him start the season without a contract?!?! Un-F***ing-believable!!!! If I were Picotte's manager I would have been like "my guy doesn't touch your bike until the negotiating is done, signed and delivered (which should have happened way before the first race of the season). This just goes to show you that employers are always going to do what's right for them and you can't expect them look out for your interests. Picotte's manager should have known better.
I am going to stop typing now before I really tell how feel and get banned from the site, hehe. HMC Ducati had the right to do fire Picotte but the way they did it to him just straight up wasn't right. I would just like to say to Picotte, best of luck man. You are a mad talented rider and I hope you don't let this cowardly act discourage you from looking for another ride and getting back out there.