While the Ducati MotoGP factory team will be racing in Austin this weekend, their test team in currently at Jerez de la Frontera for another three-day test along with World Superbike riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini and Aprilia test rider Alex Hofmann.
Michele Pirro is testing further development work done on the ‘laboratory GP13 bike’ which will probably be the basis of the ‘brand new’ Ducati Desmosedici that is expected to debut this summer, and we saw during the Sepang test and that Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden also got a taste of during the last pre-season test at the Spanish circuit.
Pirro is also preparing for his first of three wildcard rides with the Italian manufacturer, and will be racing in the Jerez GP next month.
According to a certain Kini Garcia on Twitter (Tuesday) unofficial lap times so far see Hofmann lapping with the Aprilia RSV4 in 1,43, Checa and Badovini with the Panigale in 1,44, while Pirro and Battaini are around 1,43 and 1,44 respectively.