One day you're sitting on the plane telling VR46 how his race at Phillip Island went, the next you're kicked out of racing for being an idiot, the next you're funding most of a private Ducati WSBK team so you can race. Good times?

A very happy young man. Nicky on the Loyd Brothers Ducati dirt track bike at the Texas round.

Troy Corser had a lot of time to talk when the Power Horse team folded, leaving him ride-less. Neither Corser nor Mike Hale were paid.

Nicky Hayden's Ducati MotoGP bike in "stars and well ... barcode ..."

From left: Troy Corser's wife, Sam; Eobert "Ginetto" Clerici (Honda man now for Mir but previously worked with Fogarty, Bayliss, Corser, Checa, Gibernau, Stoner and Marquez); the irrepressible Davide Tardozzi; Giorgio "Magila" Castura (unfortunately fired by Casey Stoner because someone had to pay. Now is a master gardener in Italy. Has never returned to racing which is a shame.)

LORIS BAZ WARHORSE DUCATI SUPERBIKE ... Yes, Ducati Superbikes ARE now like laptops with layers of tech laying on layers of tech.

The infamous "nine fingers" Bayliss Ducati photo.

The late Jimmy Adamo's Ducati Superbike at Brainerd WSBK 1989.

On the upside Rossi made another fortune when he rode the Ducati. Because not much else happened in that period.

Crewchief Juan Martinez and his rider Nicky Hayden.

A chilly morning in the garage for Domenico Brigaglia. He worked in WSBK for years but now is the man who fixes bent swingarms and frames for the Moto2 class. He can save the unsaveable.

The last rider who was paid a giant salary by Ducati because he was capable of winning races. After Lorenzo riders were paid giant money when they won.

Ducati Island at Laguna Seca WSBK circa 1996-97. Nearly all of these bikes were ridden to the track each day then put on display.

Owen Coles makes sure that Thomas Stevens' Ducati Superbike isn't going anywhere during practice at Sears Point.

Oschersleben: Troy Bayliss and ex-racer Jon Cornwell confer during practice.

Terry Vance, Gary Medley, Ben Bostrom, Anthony Gobert and Owen Coles.

Team Roberts co-conspirators: King Kenny Roberts, Warren Willing and "Johnny" Aksland. Willing was hired by Ducati as a contractor for a few races while his cancer was in remission.

Phil Askferrach, Eraldo Ferracci, Tom Kipp, Michael Aron and Vic Fasola (back to camera).