The Ducati GP12 didn’t make an appearance at the Wrooom event and the three-day private test at Jerez was kept on lockdown, but Czech based team Cardion AB has issued a press release regarding the satellite Ducati that Karel Abraham will be using this season that gives some details of the GP12, some of which Ducati may have wanted to keep under wraps until the Sepang test when the GP12 officially debuts.
The press release indicates the differences from last year’s GP11 and this year’s bike: last year’s 800cc bike produced 235hp and this year’s will be have a 999cc engine that will produce 250hp with a top speed of 360 km/h (speed is something that Ducati has never lacked) and stresses that the aluminium frame is Ducati (and not designed and built by FTR as everyone has been saying).
Filippo Preziosi has already mentioned that the satellite teams will be using a slightly modified version of GP0, the machine that Valentino Rossi tested at Valencia, while we know that factory riders Rossi and Nicky Hayden will be getting a completely revolutionized bike.
Press release after the jump:Ducati Desmosedici GP12: Power increased by 15 HP, max speed up to 360 km/hCzech motorcycle rider Karel Abraham will ride with more powerful and faster bike in his second season in the MotoGP class.
The new Ducati Desmosedici GP12 is powered by four-stroke 1000 ccm engine with four cylinders and power of 250HP, which allows maximum speed of 360 km per hour.
Comparing to the last year’s model, the new bike has completely modified concept.
For example, carbon chassis is replaced by deltabox aluminium frame.
“At first glance it may appear that the bike is similar to the last year’s model, but under the fairing is a series of significant changes,” says crew chief of Cardion AB Motoracing Marco Grana, who spent two weeks in Bologna with his colleagues from the Czech team.
Also the external part of the bike is slightly modified, but the design is still based on a combination of blue and white colors.
“In 2012 we decided to return to the blue color a little bit, but I think that our bike will be still well recognizable,” continues Karel Abraham.
Atypical wings, which he used on the fairing of his bike in 2011 to increase the pressure on the front wheel, will disappear this year.
Most of the components on the new bike are from the same manufacturer as last year.
Suspension of Abraham’s bike is provided by Öhlins while the brakes are from Brembo.
All teams from the premier class use Bridgestone tyres.
“I tried the new bike during the post-season test in Valencia, but the first real test will be held at Sepang in Malaysia at the end of January.
We need to be well prepared for the first test because we want to try a lot of things.
We also must work on the set-up of the bike because the 2012 MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar on April 8th,” added Karel Abraham.
According to the provisional entry list for the 2012 MotoGP World Championship, the Cardion AB Motoracing rider will compete against eleven bikes from Ducati, Honda and Yamaha.
Other nine positions on the grid will be filled by CRT teams using bikes based on serial machines.
Between many rookies are also Abraham’s old friends from the Moto2 class, for example reigning Moto2 world champion Stefan Bradl.
“Thanks to the increased number of riders, the MotoGP will be more attractive for spectators and for us.
It’s great that I will ride against my old rivals and friends, but I’m concetrating on my goal – be on the front positions as much as possible, regardless the factory machines or a CRT bikes,” he added.
Ducati Desmosedici GP12 of Cardion AB MotoracingBike made in Borgo Panigale factory in Bologna has a new 1000 ccm engine with power around 250 HP, which corresponds to a new rules in the MotoGP class for 2012 season.
The name is derived from atypical engine valve system, so-called desmodromic (valves are opened and closed by camshaft).
Sedici is “sixteen” in Italian and indicates the number of valves in the engine.
Comparison of Ducati Desmosedici GP12 and GP11Ducati Desmosedici GP12Weight: dry 155 kgMax.
speed: >360 km/hFrom 0 to 100 km/h: 2,6 sPower: 250 HP Ducati Desmosedici GP11Weight: dry 150 kgMax.
speed: >340 km/hFrom 0 to 100 km/h: 2,7 sPower: 235 HPTechnical data of Ducati Desmosedici GP12EngineWater-cooled four-stroke engine with four cylinders and four valves per cylinder which are controlled by desmodromic valve system.
The cylinders are formed in an angle of 90 degrees.
Capacity: 999 ccmElectronics: Magneti MarelliGearboxSix-speed, with the possibility to adjust the ratio of degrees.
Clutch: Dry, multi-plateChain: ReginaChassisDucati aluminium frameFronf fork: Öhlins with a diameter of 48 mmRear suspension: ÖhlinsBrakes: front four-piston Brembo calipers, 2x disc Brembo with a diameter of 320 mm, rear two-piston Brembo caliper, Brembo steel discDiscs: 16,5“ magnesium MarchesiniTyres: BridgestoneFuel tank: 21 litresFuel: Eni