This week’s private testing at Phillip Island wasn’t only for World Superbikes, but it also included Effenbert Liberty’s Superstock team with Federico Sandi and Brett McCormick.
The two riders shared the debuting Ducati 1199 Panigale in Superstock trim under the watchful eyes of Ducati engineers.
The Panigale suffered some teething problems on the first day – the engine stopped and started billowing smoke – but testing went well, despite McCormick having come down with an intestinal virus that wiped him out on the first day.
“After four months of inactivity I’m back on track and as you can guess it wasn’t easy getting back to the top, but I am happy about the lap times and the work we carried out.
Despite McCormick and I having to share the only bike available, were able to take turns over the two test days,” said Sandi.
“Here in Australia it was all new for me, from the Panigale which proved to be very different from the Superbike I rode last year, and the same goes for the type of tires that are very different than what I’m used to.
The first impression however was positive, the bike was very fast in direction changing and precise in corner entry and with a very performing engine.
I focused most of my attention in finding the right set-up that will allows us to be as fast as our our rivals.
” Unofficially Sandi’s best lap was 1.
37.
8 while McCormick set a 1.
38.
2.
Three teams will be using the 1199 Panigale this season in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup: Effenbert Liberty Racing, DMC Racing with Kev Coghlan and Alexey Ivanov, Barni Racing Team with Lorenzo Savadori and Eddi La Marra at the helm.