Two days of testing at the Valencia circuit have concluded for the Ducati MotoGP team, with several other MotoGP teams in attendance, including Repsol Honda, Suzuki and Proton (Aprilia attended, but without its top riders). Nicky Hayden, aboard his Repsol Honda, recorded the quickest lap time (a 1.33.3), but Ducati really created the biggest impression.
Remember that Ducati’s GP 4 Desmosedici is essentially an all-new machine, with very little testing behind it. Nevertheless, Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss recorded the second and third quickest times of the test, bested only by Hayden. Their lap times, 1.33.4 and 1.33.5, respectively, were quicker than Hayden’s teammate Alex Barros, Kenny Roberts of the Suzuki team (which also shows significant improvement) and all of the other riders attending.
Ducati took a bit of a chance with such a thorough revision of an already competitive bike, but it appears to be paying off (so far).
