Ducati’s test team including Moto2 rider Andrea Iannone and Gresini’s Michele Pirro concluded yesterday their three-day test at Mugello.
The first two days were more or less of a washout as it rained, but the final day was warm and sunny, and Iannone in his second test on the Desmosedici GP12 lapped in an impressive 1’48″3.
Iannone’s lap time was two tenths faster than friend Valentino Rossi’s best qualifying time of 1.
48.
444 (10th) during the July Italian GP.
while Nicky Hayden had posted a best qualifying lap of 1′47.
671 (4th), however it was Hector Barbera who grapped the third spot on the front row with 1′47.
565 (but track and air temperatures were slightly different from July and Iannone was riding with the Misano test latest updates) and he used Valentino Rossi’s data as he confirmed via Twitter, “Ho avuto a disposizione la telemetria di @ValeYellow46,mi ha aiutato a capire i miei errori.
senza sarebbe stata più dura #rossisemprenumero1 (I had @ValeYellow46 telemetry data at my disposal, it helped me understand my errors.
without it would have been harder #rossialwaysnumber1″).
“I lapped in 1′48.
3 today (Thursday) and my feeling with the team and Ducati was great but this bike isn’t easy to ride.
I wasn’t expecting this kind of lap time so I’m quite happy.
Filippo (Preziosi) was satisfied because it was the first time that I really got to work with the team,” said Iannone speaking to the official MotoGP website.
“Overall it’s been a great experience as I felt quite comfortable but for now the priority is to focus on the (Moto2) World Championship in Misano.
” With this promising lap time Iannone’s move to Ducati’s Junior team in 2013 is a done deal and the announcement is expected come during the Misano GP next weekend, with Iannone more or less confirming it after the test, “At this stage I’d say it’s almost obvious but it still has to be announced… However anyone can guess where I’ll be next year.
”Michele Pirro also got a chance to test the GP12 along side Iannone and while he wasn’t auditioning for a ride (he wanted the opportunity to ride a prototype – and Ducati answered his plea) he was rumored to have lapped in 1.
50 and have completed 150 laps over the three days and in the first two days was just a couple of tenths from Iannone.
Regarding the test Pirro tweeted , “Chiusa una tre giorni di test molto positiva.
– “Bella sensazione guidare 1 MotoGP.
– Adesso si pensa al GP di Misano! Grazie a DUCATI e GRESINI x avermi concesso questo regalo!!! Grazie a TUTTI x il supporto!” – una bellissima esperienza (Finished the first of three test days very positive – Great sensation riding a MotoGP – Now have to think about Misano GP! Thanks to Ducati and Gresini for having given me this gift!!! Thanks everyone for the support! – a wonderful experience)