Ducati works on factory electronics, satellite set-up

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The Ducati Test Team was present at this week's private Jerez test, alongside four of the new Claiming Rule Teams. 

Official test rider Franco Battaini was on track throughout the three days, concentrating on electronic developments which will now be tried by factory race riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden at next week's official Sepang test.

“We were lucky because we had three days with very good weather conditions,” said Ducati Corse General Manage Filippo Preziosi, “and that enabled us to do quite a bit of work. 

“With Franco, we continued with the test program that was planned for the Test Team over the winter, trying some aspects of the electronics that we'll keep working on with the factory riders at Sepang.

“I think we found out some interesting things that we'll soon confirm with Vale and Nicky in Malaysia, where we'll also continue working with the bike's set-up.”

In addition to Battaini, satellite Ducati race riders Karel Abraham (Cardion AB) and Hector Barbera (Pramac) each spent a day alternating with the Italian aboard the GP12 SAT. Abraham rode on day two and Barbera on day three.

“Because we had the track available here at Jerez, we also offered our satellite-team riders the opportunity to lap and to work on their respective set-ups,” said Preziosi.

No times were released for Abraham, who suffered a fiery fall, but Barbera - the best satellite rider at the first Sepang test - was said to have set a lap time of 1min 40.0sec, just 0.3sec quicker than the top CRT bike of Randy de Puniet (Aprilia ART).

Hayden had been due to ride at the Jerez test, but was forced to withdraw due to shoulder surgery. The 2006 world champion aims to be back on track at the second Sepang test, which starts on February 28.

source: crash.net

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Ducati Test Team wraps up in Jerez

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The Ducati Test Team finished a three-day test Wednesday at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez. Activities were led by Filippo Preziosi, who followed the work schedule carried out by official test rider Franco Battaini.

Thanks to the mild and favorable weather conditions, Ducati engineers were able to perform tests on setup and electronics, and to gather important information.

Battaini was also joined by the two riders from Ducati’s satellite teams, Cardion AB MotoRacing’s Karel Abraham and Pramac Racing’s Hector Barbera. Each spent a day alternating with the Italian aboard the GP12 SAT, the former riding on Tuesday, February 21, and the latter participating today.

"We were lucky because we had three days with very good weather conditions," Filippo Preziosi said, "and that enabled us to do quite a bit of work. With Franco (Battaini), we continued with the test program that was planned for the Test Team over the winter, trying some aspects of the electronics that we’ll keep working on with the factory riders at Sepang. I think we found out some interesting things that we’ll soon confirm with Vale and Nicky in Malaysia, where we’ll also continue working with the bike’s setup. Because we had the track available here at Jerez, we also offered our satellite-team riders the opportunity to lap and to work on their respective setups."

source: MotoGP Official

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Ducati: the "Phoenix" is ready to fly

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After their third and final day of "secret" testing at Jerez, Ducati has broken the silence with a brief press release. 

"The Ducati Test Team, directed by Technical Director Filippo Preziosi, has completed three days of testing on the Spanish circuit of Jerez de La Frontera, with Carlos Checa and Franco Battaini followed by in the pit garage by Team Manager, Vittoriano Guareschi."

"The two riders completed a “shake-down” of the GP12, which will be tested in two weeks by the official riders, Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden."

"During the three days, in which weather conditions were cold but fortunately dry, the work program was completed without any problems enabling the team to complete all checks in preparation to start the winter tests in Sepang, Malaysia from 31 January until 2 February 2012."

Not surprisingly these few lines don't reveal very much, as they have clearly made an effort to be as vague as possible. 

So the mystery of the GP12 lives on, forcing us to wait a few more weeks before we receive the initial feedback on Filippo Preziosi's latest creation. At least it now seems clear that Ducati intend to call the bike the GP12, even if it's something of a misnomer; while the name 'GPZero' was essentially invented by the press, the number of changes made to the 2012 bike mean it could easily be called the GP12.3, or even the GP13, if that number weren't considered unlucky.

A name we do agree with is "Operation Phoenix," something Alex Brigs first mentioned on twitter.  In a little over ten days we'll know if the new Desmosedici can rise from the flames and learn to fly again.

One final note: at the conclusion of the test session, Carlos Checa returned to his familiar 1198 SBK, saying on twitter: "the bike felt good, but with an extra 6Kg it's harder to ride."

source: GPOne

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Ducati completes GP12 MotoGP shakedown

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Ducati has released a short statement following the completion of this week's private test session at Jerez, which marked the track debut of the '90% new' Desmosedici GP12 MotoGP machine.

The statement read: 

“The Ducati Test Team, directed by Technical Director Filippo Preziosi, has completed three days of testing on the Spanish circuit of Jerez de La Frontera, with Carlos Checa and Franco Battaini followed [from] the pit garage by Team Manager, Vittoriano Guareschi.

“The two riders completed a “shake-down” of the GP12, which will be tested in two weeks by the official riders, Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden.

“During the three days, in which weather conditions were cold but fortunately dry, the work program was completed without any problems enabling the team to complete all checks in preparation to start the winter tests in Sepang, Malaysia from 31 January until 2 February 2012.”

Writing on his official Twitter page @CarlosCheca7, reigning World Superbike champion Checa added: "Finish test with GP. Today also riding my ducati 1198 recovering good feelings (not easy with +6 kg ) & getting ready for this new season."

No pictures were released by Ducati, although Preziosi has warned that from the outside the 'new' GP12 looks very similar to the previous version, used by Rossi at the Valencia post-race test in November. 

That bike is also due to be available for the Ducati grand prix riders at Sepang.

source: crash.net

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2012 Ducati MotoGP bike set for track debut

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Carlos Checa and Franco Battaini to test the new Ducati Desmosedici GP12 at Jerez.

The much-anticipated Desmosedici GP12 MotoGP machine, described as '90% new' by Ducati Corse general manager Filippo Preziosi, is to make its track debut in a private test that starts at Jerez on Tuesday.

According to GPone.com, the test will last for three days, with development rider Franco Battaini and World Superbike champion Carlos Checa at the controls of the bike with which Valentino Rossi will be aiming to end his longest winless run in grand prix.

Checa confirmed via Twitter that he arrived in Jerez on Monday evening.

Unlike in recent years, the new Ducati machine was not unveiled during last week's Wrooom press event and will instead make its public debut - alongside its factory rivals - during the Sepang MotoGP test, which starts on January 31.

As well as the 'new' GP12, factory Ducati stars Rossi and Nicky Hayden will also have the previous version of the aluminium twin-spar framed bike to try in Malaysia - the same development bike as used by Rossi in last November's post-race Valencia test.

source: crash.net

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