Rossi: Not bad for a first taste...
"The engine seems to be pretty good already... On the other hand, I'm a little slower in mid-corner, and we also have to try to improve rear grip " – Valentino Rossi
A Ducati bike featuring an aluminium twin-spar frame, as used by all the factory's Japanese rivals, made its public debut at the start of the Valencia test on Tuesday.
Lone factory rider finished the first day of 1000cc testing alongside rivals from Honda and Yamaha in sixth position, 1.671sec from pace setter (Honda).
“This bike is nicer to ride than the 800, even if we're only just starting our work. You can say that it's improved in some respects, while in others, it's very similar to the other bike, but that's exactly what we expected," said Rossi.
"We know we're doing preparatory work for the bike that we'll use in the 2012 winter tests, which are very important. The engine seems to be pretty good already. It's fast, although I never really found myself with the others to do a direct comparison.
"On the other hand, I'm a little slower in mid-corner, and we also have to try to improve rear grip because for now, we're not able to get the power to the ground and take full advantage of it. But it's not bad for a first taste."
Billed as an 'experimental' version of next year's GP12, Rossi believes the use of the conventional frame - relative to the carbon fibre and stressed engine of recent seasons - will allow a greater range of adjustments during testing.
"The really important thing is that we can work more freely, changing the bike's balance, the weight distribution, the measurements, and whatever we need as we prepare for the important next three months of work," he said.
Team-mate will miss the test, which concludes on Wednesday evening, after wrist fractures were discovered following Sunday's turn one pile-up.
Nicky Hayden diagnosed with broken
"I just have to be smart and watch the test. We'll get some more opinions and decide whether to get surgery" - Nicky Hayden
Factory Ducati star will miss this week's Valencia test after being diagnosed with a broken right wrist.
The American was one of four riders to fall in turn one of Sunday's season-ending Valencia Grand Prix (pictured).
However the full extent of the wrist injuries - non-displaced fractures to his scaphoid and radial styloid - were only discovered on Tuesday.
“This morning I put my leathers on to go out, but I was still pretty uncomfortable," said Hayden. "I went to the mobile clinic for a painkiller, and when I got there, the doctor said it would be better to get a proper scan.
"They set me up for an MRI at a local clinic, and the fractures were pretty clear. After talking to the doctor and my physiotherapist, we decided not to ride, even though we do have some stuff we'd like to test for Ducati.
"The scaphoid is a unique bone, and if you mess with it, it can take a long time to heal because it gets limited blood supply. I just have to be smart and watch the test. We'll get some more opinions and decide whether to get surgery.”
Ducati GP12 MotoGP bike with full aluminium twin-spar frame
As rumoured, the start of the Valencia test on Tuesday also marked the public debut of a twin-spar aluminium frame - as used by the Japanese manufacturers - on a Ducati bike (another pic below).
Ducati claim the bike being used at this week's test is the starting point for next year's machine, suggesting significant developments are still to come for the GP12.
The Valencia test, which concludes on Wednesday evening, marks the first time that 1000cc bikes from Honda, Yamaha and Ducati have been on track at the same time.
Ducati began the season using a carbon fibre chassis, with receiving an aluminium front section at Aragon in an attempt to improve front-end feel.
A Ducati bike featuring an aluminium twin-spar frame, as used by all the factory's Japanese rivals, made its public debut at the start of the Valencia test on Tuesday.
Lone factory rider finished the first day of 1000cc testing alongside rivals from Honda and Yamaha in sixth position, 1.671sec from pace setter (Honda).
“This bike is nicer to ride than the 800, even if we're only just starting our work. You can say that it's improved in some respects, while in others, it's very similar to the other bike, but that's exactly what we expected," said Rossi.
"We know we're doing preparatory work for the bike that we'll use in the 2012 winter tests, which are very important. The engine seems to be pretty good already. It's fast, although I never really found myself with the others to do a direct comparison.
"On the other hand, I'm a little slower in mid-corner, and we also have to try to improve rear grip because for now, we're not able to get the power to the ground and take full advantage of it. But it's not bad for a first taste."
Billed as an 'experimental' version of next year's GP12, Rossi believes the use of the conventional frame - relative to the carbon fibre and stressed engine of recent seasons - will allow a greater range of adjustments during testing.
"The really important thing is that we can work more freely, changing the bike's balance, the weight distribution, the measurements, and whatever we need as we prepare for the important next three months of work," he said.
Team-mate will miss the test, which concludes on Wednesday evening, after wrist fractures were discovered following Sunday's turn one pile-up.
Nicky Hayden diagnosed with broken
wrist
"I just have to be smart and watch the test. We'll get some more opinions and decide whether to get surgery" - Nicky Hayden
Factory Ducati star will miss this week's Valencia test after being diagnosed with a broken right wrist.
The American was one of four riders to fall in turn one of Sunday's season-ending Valencia Grand Prix (pictured).
However the full extent of the wrist injuries - non-displaced fractures to his scaphoid and radial styloid - were only discovered on Tuesday.
“This morning I put my leathers on to go out, but I was still pretty uncomfortable," said Hayden. "I went to the mobile clinic for a painkiller, and when I got there, the doctor said it would be better to get a proper scan.
"They set me up for an MRI at a local clinic, and the fractures were pretty clear. After talking to the doctor and my physiotherapist, we decided not to ride, even though we do have some stuff we'd like to test for Ducati.
"The scaphoid is a unique bone, and if you mess with it, it can take a long time to heal because it gets limited blood supply. I just have to be smart and watch the test. We'll get some more opinions and decide whether to get surgery.”
PIC: Aluminium twin-spar Ducati
Ducati GP12 MotoGP bike with full aluminium twin-spar frame
As rumoured, the start of the Valencia test on Tuesday also marked the public debut of a twin-spar aluminium frame - as used by the Japanese manufacturers - on a Ducati bike (another pic below).
Ducati claim the bike being used at this week's test is the starting point for next year's machine, suggesting significant developments are still to come for the GP12.
The Valencia test, which concludes on Wednesday evening, marks the first time that 1000cc bikes from Honda, Yamaha and Ducati have been on track at the same time.
Ducati began the season using a carbon fibre chassis, with receiving an aluminium front section at Aragon in an attempt to improve front-end feel.
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