2014 Ducati Team MotoGP Test
Before traveling to Le Mans for this weekend’s French Grand Prix, the Ducati Team completed a one-day private MotoGP test at Mugello. The test allowed the team to tune the GP14 prototypes ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the Tuscan circuit in three-weeks’ time.
The factory team, which competes under the open-option rules, completed a total of 122 laps between the GP14s of Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow. Under favorable weather conditions, the team experimented with setup and new electronic strategies.
The Ducati Team also worked on the braking system of Crutchlow’s GP14; this was due to the issues the Brit encountered at Jerez, where his race ended on lap five due to brake issues.
Dovizioso, who gave Ducati its first podium under dry conditions in over a year at Circuit of the Americas put in 67 laps, posting a best time of 1:47.9. To put this time into perspective, the circuit record at Mugello is a 1:47.639 posted by Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez last season.
“It’s always important to do a test at Mugello before the race, and in any case we had some new set-ups to try. It was interesting: nothing revolutionary, but in any case these were tests that will be useful for the future bike. I set some good times, but when your adversaries are not present, you mustn’t give them too much importance,” Dovizioso says.
“In any case we are quicker than last year. Towards the end of the day I crashed at turn 4 when I lost the front. Luckily I was unharmed, but I feel sorry for the mechanics who will now have to work a bit more this evening, because tomorrow we’re all leaving for France.”
As for Crutchlow, his best finish was sixth at the opening round in Qatar. He injured his right wrist during a crash at Circuit of the Americas, which caused a DNF in that round and a DNS at Argentina.
During the one-day test at Mugello, Crutchlow put in 55 laps with a best time of 1:48.2.
“Today was a day we had some things to try. I tested something different to my teammate and to Andrea Iannone, but we went back towards the base setting of the Ducati and it felt a bit more comfortable.
“It was a good working day with quite good weather so we are happy to leave here confirming the direction for Le Mans and looking forwards to the weekend,” Crutchlow says.
