Ducati completes Jerez MotoGP test

From Ducati Press

While the Ducati Marlboro Team was at the offical MotoGP pre-season tests in Sepang with Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden last week, Filippo Preziosi and the development team were in Jerez de La Frontera in Spain, working with official team test rider, Franco Battaini, in a three-day test session that concluded on Friday.

While over-seeing the progress on the Andalusian circuit, Preziosi remained in constant contact with the team in Malaysia, coordinating the work of the engineers to enhance the development program of the Desmosedici.

“Today was the final session of this three-day test in Jerez with the development team,” said Filippo Preziosi as the day came to a close. “We worked through an intense schedule with Franco, completing a series of software tests in close conjunction with the official team in Sepang: based on the feed-back from Valentino and Nicky, we carried the work forward on a parallel course which will allow us to provide concrete solutions for the next test in Qatar. We have also continued to work on the chassis set-up, gathering data which we will return to the factory with on Monday for comparison with that of Sepang.

"In Malaysia we have not finished in a position in line with our original target but this was also due to some back luck. After a promising start to the test, Valentino became ill and lost a full day on the track, forcing him to cram all of the remaining work into the last day. Valentino, Nicky and all the guys at the track were working flat out, and we are doing the same back in the factory. We are confident that by going forward with this same level of commitment, and staying focused on our objectives we will realize the potential that we know we have.”