We didn’t have to wait for some fan photos and videos to show up on the web showing Valentino Rossi in action for the first time on the Ducati 1198, because the Ducati website posted these pics.
So far no word on how Rossi’s shoulder is holding up in this fitness test workout, nor have any lap times filtered out from the Misano track, but we expect some sort of brief statement shortly.
UPDATED: “First of all, thanks to Filippo (Preziosi) and to Ducati, who organized this test.
Misano Circuit let us use the track on a day when Mattia (Pasini) was planning to ride in order to confirm his own condition.
The track more or less confirmed what we expected: the shoulder is painful—especially under braking, when the front area hurts, where they stitched the tendon.
Movement is stable enough, and we’re also doing not so bad with endurance, but apart from that, it hurts a lot and isn’t very strong.
Let’s hope it gets a little better in these next few days before the test in Malaysia.
Once we’re there, we’ll work with the riding position in an effort to make the most of the situation and collect important information with the Desmosedici, even though I’m not in top form.
Today I did a total of 25 laps on the 1198 Superbike, which is sort of a ‘historic’ motorcycle for Ducati: beautiful and fast.
I liked it!” said Valentino Rossi.