Marlboro Ducati team boss Livio Suppo has sensationally quit the squad and this weekend's MotoGP race at Valencia will be his last with the Bologna-based outfit.

The Italian has been with Ducati since 1999 and has been at the forefront of developing the Desmosedici MotoGP bike in its various guises, finally taking the title in 2007 with Casey Stoner.

It is not known why he is leaving but many rumours have been floating around that his relationship with the Aussie has broken down, and that Ducati may be paving the way for Valentino Rossi and Jerry Burgess to come on board in 2011.

“Livio has meant a great deal to Ducati and also to me personally. He has been a loyal and valuable colleague but above all a great friend, said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati's general manager.

"We are very sorry that he has decided to leave the company but, in light of his correctness, professionalism and the great contribution he has made to the growth and success of the MotoGP project and the Ducati brand, we can only offer him our very best wishes as he takes on a new professional challenge.

"This is, however, also one of those moments in which we can rethink our organization in order to further improve, and this is what we have done in defining the 2010 team’s direction. The management of the Ducati Marlboro Team will be entrusted to, and reinforced by, two new managerial figures.

"Alessandro Cicognani, currently marketing manager for the Ducati Corse Division, will be responsible for the MotoGP project and alongside him, Vittoriano Guareschi, already the test rider for Ducati, will undertake the role of Team Manager, bringing to the squad a wealth of knowledge and experience that he has gained through being a professional rider and, most recently, a test rider."