2011 MotoGP Prep
Moving from a Moto2 machine to a MotoGP prototype has been challenging for the rookie Karel Abraham, but the Czech rider says he’s adapting well to the Cardion AB Ducati GP11.
Abraham had his second outing on the Desmosedici at Sepang last week, finishing 15th overall, but was only 1.888 seconds slower than the fastest rider after the three-day test, San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli.
Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Ducati MotoGP) says: "I think it’s going well. It’s a very difficult bike to ride because it has so much power and I’m not used to it – I think it will take a few more Tests for me to get completely used to it.
"The lines are completely different to how it was in Moto2 or 250cc. I have to learn a completely new style of riding and that takes time."
Besides adapting to the bike and refining his style, Abraham had the same chatter issues encountered by Ducati factory riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden
Karel Abraham says: "We focused mainly on the front and rear tires, and the behavior of the front and rear in the turns. At first the front was chattering quite a bit, then the rear was sliding a lot so we had to do something with it, and that’s what we’ve been working hard on."
Abraham and the Cardion AB Ducati team will continue to develop the GP11 at Sepang during the second of three pre-season test on Feb, 22-24.
Abraham announced his participation in the premier class at the end of the 2010 MotoGP season while competing in the debut Moto2 class with the Cardion AB team.
With the addition of the Cardion AB satellite team, the 21-year-old rider will be the sixth on a Ducati. He will join the other Ducati prototypes on the 2011 MotoGP grid: the factory Ducati Marlboro Team (Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden), the satellite Pramac Racing Team (Randy de Puniet and Loris Capirossi) and the satellite Aspar Team (current rider Hector Barbera).
Abraham, who made his professional debut in 125cc MotoGP in 2005, first test on the Ducati MotoGP machine was at the traditional post-season Valencia test in November. It should also be noted that Karel Abraham’s father also owns the Masaryk Circuit in Brno, where the Czech Grand Prix will take place Aug. 14.
