When Valentino Rossi tested the GP12.
1 last week at Mugello, little was revealed on what he was exactly testing, except for the cryptic words “electronics and chassis” (while everyone on the web was chanting aluminum chassis like a mantra) but today during the press conference at Aragon, the Ducati rider revealed he had indeed tested an aluminum frame and that he’ll be using it this weekend on his GP11.
1 or the GP11.
2, as we can now call it.
It seems that that this new chassis that Ducati has come up with, has the same structural design as the previous one in carbon fiber, only that it gives more front end feeling to the Italian and apparently finding a right set-up seems to be somewhat easier, something that Rossi and his team have struggled with all season.
“It’s not a frame.
The philosophy of Ducati remains the same,” said Rossi.
“The front part of the bike is a bit different and is aluminium and not carbon fibre like it was before, it’s a question of time with regards to the material.
We have to work, to try to understand, and with aluminium we need a lot less time than the carbon.
It’s just the first step, we’ll keep working and we’ll try to come back and fight for the front positions.
”At the end of tomorrow’s practice sessions should give a certain response if the aluminum chassis is a step in the right direction for Rossi and Ducati, while team mate Nicky Hayden will have to continue using the GP11.
1 with the carbon fiber frame (not enough parts for everyone) and expects that he’ll be getting the new chassis only at the Valencia post-season test.