Ducati Test Report
The Ducati Marlboro Team completed the first day of a second test session at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia today as they continue their preparations for the 2010 MotoGP season. Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden were second and eleventh fastest on the unofficial time sheets today, without using the new tyres (hard front and medium rear) that Bridgestone have made available to the teams here. Both riders plan to try the new rubber during tomorrow’s second and final day.
Stoner knocked a tenth off his best time from the last test at Sepang three weeks ago on just his second outing of the day and reported positive feedback from the new bike. Hayden also managed to improve his lap times from the previous session here although he was careful not to put too much stress on his right arm, which underwent surgery two weeks ago.
Casey Stoner Speaks… (Ducati Marlboro Team) 2nd fastest 2’01.219 (43 laps)
"Today went really well, we have taken a good step forward since the last test three weeks ago. We didn’t make any major changes to the bike at the start, preferring to make small adjustments as the day progressed, working in particular on the swingarm. I’m satisfied – the bike feels well balanced and the characteristics of the new engine make it easier to ride in general."
"We definitely have room for improvement in terms of the set-up – we could find some more traction, for example, although we are still better off in this respect than we were here last year. We could also improve the bike under braking, especially in the hard braking zones, and find some more edge grip but it is a case of refining a few details. We have a good base to work from so I’m happy for today."
Nicky Hayden Speaks… (Ducati Marlboro Team) 11th fastest 2’02.221 (65 laps)
"We started out with the setting from the previous test, working a little bit with the geometry, and in some parts of the track we got better but there is still plenty of room for improvement. We’ve been working on trying to solve a little front-end chatter and we did that a little by changing to the carbon swingarm. The arm is ok enough but I didn’t want to push it too hard."
2010 MotoGP Test Times (Day 1, Sepang 2)
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 2’01.068
2. Casey Stoner
(AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 2’01.219
3. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol
Honda Team 2’01.631
4. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
2’01.687
5. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2’01.843
6.
Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2’01.897
7. Dani Pedrosa
(SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2’02.036
8. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Racing
Team 2’02.038
9. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2’02.078
10.
Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 2’02.086
11. Nicky
Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 2’02.22
12. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN)
Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 2’02.419
13. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac
Racing Team 2’02.447
14. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 2’02.485
15.
Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 2’02.535
16. Marco Simoncelli
(ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 2’03.254
