/world sport
MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -- Ducati have renewed the contract of MotoGP championship leader Casey Stoner, the Italian team said on Monday.
Stoner has been the dominant force on the MotoGP circuit this season on his Ducati.
"World championship leader Casey Stoner has renewed his agreement with the Borgo Panigale-based factory for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, with an option for the 2010 championship.
"24-year-old Italian Marco Melandri will join the Australian with a two-year contract," the Italian team said on their Web site.
Stoner claimed his sixth MotoGP win this season at the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his lead over Yamaha's Valentino Rossi to 44 points. Melandri is fifth in the standings.
Ducati also said there was a chance current rider Loris Capirossi could stay with the team.
"Next week Loris Capirossi and his manager will meet with Ducati to evaluate the possibility of preparing a third official Desmosedici MotoGP bike for the Italian rider to use in the 2008 world championship," the statement said. E-mail to a friend 
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