Carlos Checa aboard the Alstare Ducati 1199 Panigale.
2013 World Superbike Championship
By Sam Sims
For 2013 World Superbike, the newly-formed Alstare Ducati Team will field the 1199 Panigale.
The switch from the 1198 to the 1199 arrives with many obstacles for the Alstare team and its riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini, and testing is key. But the team didn’t have much luck during a three-day testing session at Jerez Saturday through Monday.Due to inclement weather at the Spanish circuit, the World SBK Champion Checa and Badovini only got three hours of track time. But the team, which is under the direction of Team Manager Francis Batta and Ducati SBK Project Manager Ernesto Marinelli, reports that some useful data was collected.Aryton Badovini at Jerez aboard the Alstare Ducati 1199 Panigale.Alstare Ducati says: “It was of course not possible to respect the original planned program of work but the limited track time did allow the riders to build their confidence with the bike and provide some good feedback which will prove to be an extremely important starting point when it comes to the next tests in Australia.“The 1199 Panigale R bikes will now go back to Alstare’s racing department where work will continue in coming weeks.”Alstare Ducati will return to the track on Feb. 14-15 for additional private testing at Phillip Island in Australia, ahead of the official tests at the same circuit Feb. 18-19.
This week, Senior Editor Nic de Sena rides the all new Ducati Monster. Big changes have been made by Ducati–has the company ruined the considerable heritage of the iconic Monster–or are the changes worth it? In the second part of the show, we chat with Nick Ienatsch, Founder and Head Instructor at the Yamaha Champions Riding School. He says: “We aim to change your riding life by introducing you to Champions Habits: The techniques, approaches, skills, and the mindsets of the best riders in the world. These Champions Habits are the foundation of safety and consistency to whatever speed you ride, in any venue on any bike. Street riders, this is just as much for you as track riders. The best way to make safe riders is to make good riders.“ We hope you enjoy this episode!
 wrapped up a three-day private World Superbike test at Jerez on Monday.){kind=link}