MotoGP Test Brno, Valentino Rossi: “A very challenging day”

In the post-race test scheduled by MotoGP in Brno, the two Ducati Team riders lapped with the 800cc in the GP11.1 version, with a single initial run by Nicky Hayden with the GP11.

The work of the two riders focused on two slightly different directions: Rossi, working with a future perspective, dedicated the day to set-up and weight distribution tests designed to guide the next development steps in the medium term .

Hayden, after an outing with the GP11 and one with the GP11.1, dedicated himself solely to the second, working on adapting to the new version and finding a basic set up.

Valentino Rossi – Ducati Team – (GP11.1 – 1'58.266 – 74 laps)
“It was a very challenging day not only because we did something like 75 laps but also because at every outing we tried so many changes. It's not easy to drive like that, it requires a lot of concentration. We had some electronics upgrades that we need to refine but we'll get back to them soon. For the rest we thought more about the future, above all trying different geometries, weight distribution, slightly particular settings, all to remove some doubts and to understand some things about the GP11.1. Let's say that it was a fruitful test even if it was sacrificed from a performance point of view because we had other objectives. We also tried some new Bridgestone tires and the first feeling is positive."

Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – (GP11.1 – 1'57.533 – 78 laps)
“Everything went very well today. We didn't break records or anything like that but we worked well and the rain only came at the end of the tests. After an outing with the GP11 I took the GP11.1 and, as had already happened in Laguna, I immediately replicated my fastest lap. From there I made little progress, step by step. Once again my team worked a lot between preparing the bikes for the race and those for the tests. I had fun, it's always nice to see progress being made and the feeling improving and my idea is to use the GP11.1 in Indy. Now I'm going home, my sister is getting married this weekend so the family will have two special moments between this and my home race in two weeks."

Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse Technical Director
“As far as Valentino is concerned, we decided to use this test day with the 800cc to try very extreme set up solutions, with the aim of giving indications to the designers for medium-term work. We have therefore brought some material that allows you to make variations in the adjustments that are more extreme than what can normally be done. These are tests that are used to understand, for example, what happens when the center of gravity moves a lot or the stiffness increases significantly and so on. The medium-term objective is to build the basic know-how for the motorcycle of the future. Nicky on the other hand, after a first run with the GP11, preferred to work only on the GP11.1, with which he immediately ran well, to gain experience with its characteristics and work on a basic set up".