Valentino Rossi and Ducati’s test team concluded the second and final day of private testing at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
After completing 60 laps yesterday and 80 today, Rossi according to several sources (unofficial) best time was around 1’34″6 and he was using a new frame and swingarm that the team will debut in the upcoming Misano GP, according to Ducati Corse’s technical director Filippo Preziosi: “Over these two days with Valentino, we focused on chassis testing.
Based on the feedback he provided, we’ll bring a new frame and a new swingarm to the next race.
In the meantime, the Corse department will continue working according to the development plan that was established following the June test at Aragon.
Over the remainder of the season, the Test Team and the factory riders will have the opportunity to try further chassis evolutions, which are currently being produced.
” “We carried out a series of tests with the chassis, and the results were interesting, though they still have to be checked against the other riders,” commented Rossi.
“We also worked on the bike’s set-up, with the goal of trying to limit the drop in performance that we usually suffer after some laps, as the tyres wear.
We had some promising signs there as well, and we’ll check them again in a race context.
”Nicky Hayden recovery from his hand injury picked up during qualifying at Indianapolis and forced him to sit out his home race, is still ongoing, but it is expected that he’ll return for the Misano weekend.
“It was pretty tough to be home while my rivals were racing, and testing is also something that I hated missing, as we had some parts that we could possibly use this year.
Everything else is good news though.
Bones don’t heal in ten days, but the swelling is down in my hand, and the feeling is much better with both that and my head.
Everything’s right on schedule, and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the bike.
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