MotoGP / Rossi News
Following his fifth-place finish at the Portuguese GP Sunday, Ducati Team’s Valentino Rossi was again fifth fastest at the testing session held Monday at the Estoril MotoGP circuit.
The Ducati Team tested with multiple new features on the frame of GP11 as Rossi and his teammate Nicky Hayden lapped the Estoril MotoGP circuit.
Rossi says he’s confident in the newly configured chassis of the Ducati GP11, and his consistent times in the 1:37 range proved this.
Valentino Rossi (Ducati MotoGP – 5th, 1:37.382, 82 laps) says: “It was a positive test because the new updates were immediately better. The bike was more sensitive to changes made to the front, which makes it easier to work on a setup that works better for me. I realized that as soon as I got on the bike and then, over the course of the following hours, we constantly progressed.
“We also had an engine with a slightly smoother power delivery that I liked a lot. We’ll start using it when the rotation plan allows it. I liked the tires that Bridgestone had us try, they seemed very good. Of course the other riders also made great progress, and the less positive about today is the gap to the front on my best lap.
“Anyway, everything that the Ducati technicians brought worked, and that means that we’re on the right path. We have to continue working, but today’s test gives us confidence.”
As for Rossi’s teammate, the American Hayden, he also liked the new Ducati MotoGP chassis, and dropped below the 1:38 mark towards the end of the testing session.
Nicky Hayden (Ducati MotoGP, 9th, 1:37.463, 89 laps) says: “We were lucky to get a really good day with the weather. We improved, because I consistently went a lot faster than in qualifying, but it looked like everybody else improved too. I did my best time on the 2012 tyres, so Bridgestone made a nice step there.
“I got on the updated chassis after lunch, and it had a better feel over some of the bumps, and still good stability under braking. The updated engine made the bike a little smoother, and I liked it overall.”