Scott Redding got the opportunity to do a two-day full fledged test of the Ducati GP12 at Mugello.
The 19-year old British rider has always been on Vitto Guareschi’s radar, as he believes that Redding’s rather aggressive riding style and physical characteristics could be a perfect match with the difficult Italian machine.
Ducati is pondering on whether to field a junior team next season, something similar to Yamaha Tech3, after the persistant rumors that Pramac Racing and Cardion AB might not be running Ducati’s next season.
They will be giving the same opportunity to Andrea Iannone (he rode a few laps on last year’s Pramac machine) – who already has an option signed by Ducati, that if he ends up riding the Desmosedici in 2013, he’ll get into the factory team in two years time – and he’ll also get another chance to test again in September according to his personal manager Carlo Pernat.
Apparently Danilo Petrucci will also be re-testing the GP12 in September, after his test session early last month.
Covering a total of 127 laps, Redding’s best time was under 1.
50 minute on hard tyres (Ducati doesn’t usually permit lap times to filter out during tests) – Danilo Petrucci wasn’t allowed to reveal his lap times.
Talking to BBC Sport, Redding said, “It was hard but fun and definitely more than I expected.
Some things were easier, like the cornering, the hardest thing was trying to get around the traction control.
The main problem was the speed at the end of the straight, I wasn’t expecting it to be so fast.
” “I think it suits me more to be honest.
I’s the first time I’ve ridden anything bigger than a Moto2 so it definitely took a toll on the body, more than I expected, but in the end I enjoyed it.
I made my target lap time and I felt comfortable.
I think it’s the direction I need to go in.
Filippo Preziosi seemed pretty happy with the lap time and my enthusiasm, I just kept going at it and going at it.
I think they were happy with how I’ve performed over the two days.
I’ve done all I can do.
”