Superbike Testing
During the sizzling heat of World Ducati Week, which runs from June 10 to 13, the official Ducati Xerox Superbike team as well as Althea Ducati, DFX Corse and Supersonic Ducati, will make a series of tests at the Misano World Circuit.
The test will be open to the public, in front of thousands of Ducatisti, and is a unique event, as Ernesto Marinelli, Ducati SBK Project Manager, explained:
“This year WDW will be really special as, for the first time, we’ve arranged a true, official test that is open to the public. During each day of the WDW we will have Superbike test sessions scheduled, with all the main players of the 2010 season present: Nori, Michel, Carlos, Shane, Lorenzo, Luca and more…”
“We also have a surprise that I think will make these hours even more enjoyable for the spectators, as the test rider that we have chosen to ride the development Superbike during these sessions will be our very own Troy Bayliss who, excited to be back on the bike, will surely put on a show and provide us with useful information so as to make the 1198 even more competitive.”
“I’m really happy and I think it’s a great opportunity for us to experience a unique event together with the Ducatisti, with all the red passion that unites us. See you at Misano!”
DFX Corse, which switched back to Ducati in 2009, is one of the others teams taking advantage of World Ducati Week currently being held at Misano World Circuit to put in some extra track testing time.
The team is present with the rider it normally enters in World Superbike events, Lorenzo Lanzi, but also with a man who has experienced an important chapter of his long career with the Veneto-based squad: Regis Laconi.
Following his dramatic crash during free practice at Kyalami in 2009, the Frenchman has now returned for an exploratory test to see his current state of form. Laconi has continued training on his bicycle all this time to remain fit, and after more than 70 laps with a best time of 1’37”800, he proved that his talent is still intact.
But any thoughts of returning to racing for the moment are premature and totally groundless. The friendship that ties Regis to team manager Daniele Carli enabled the test to take place, for the joy of the thousands of WDW fans.