MotoGP – The Ducati with Bridgestone tires makes its debut in Jerez

Jerez de La Frontera, 22 November 2004 – After the recent announcement of the collaboration agreement with Bridgestone relating to the 2005 MotoGP World Championship, the "Reds of Borgo Panigale" take to the track equipped for the first time with the new tyres. The three days of testing on the Spanish circuit of Jerez will be a first and important test bench to best prepare for the 2005 season and optimize this new partnership. On Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th November the Ducati Marlboro Team will be busy with the two official riders, Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa, to work on the bike's set-up and get familiar with the new tires.

An important debut, which also emotionally involves all the men of the Italian team.
“Tomorrow will be a truly special day – declared Livio Suppo, director of the Ducati Marlboro Team – For the first time our riders will test their Desmosedici with Bridgestone tires and we will start working with our new partner in preparation for next season. There will be new faces in the garage and, after two years of close and constructive collaboration in MotoGP, it will have a strange effect not having Michelin technicians at our side. We must, however, concentrate on 2005 and take advantage of every lap on the track to give the Desmosedici the chance to redeem 2004 and express the great potential of this fantastic bike. We have three days of testing here in Jerez and another two next week in Valencia. We hope that the good weather will help us, so that Loris and Carlos can become familiar with the new tires and work in the best possible way."

Immediately after the Jerez tests, the Ducati Marlboro Team will remain in Spain, this time on the Valencia circuit, where on the 29th and 30th it will return to the track again to continue its preparation work for 2005.
In both Jerez and Valencia, in addition to Capirossi and Checa, there will also be vice World Superbike Champion Regis Laconi, on track with the Development Team's Desmosedici, in the unusual role of test rider.

“Regis Laconi will also be helping us in these last tests of 2004 – concluded Suppo – Regis has good experience in GP and for this reason we asked him to participate in these tests. In fact, in these days, Loris and Carlos will focus on the tyres, while he will work with the technicians of our Development Team on some new components for the GP5, components already tested by our test driver Vittoriano Guareschi which, waiting to be tested by Loris and Carlos, will also be tested by Regis to accelerate the development of the Desmosedici. Regis's presence with our Development Team is occasional and Vittoriano will continue his work as official test rider for the Ducati Marlboro Team next year."

Ducati Press