Two days of private testing for the two Ducati Team riders at Mugello concluded today at 1 pm in the afternoon. Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso focussed their efforts above all on the search for the right settings and electronic strategies for the Italian GP, which takes place on this circuit at the end of May, while further positive tests were carried out with the chassis modifications introduced at Jerez, which did not produce the expected results on the Spanish track.
Results on the track were positive, with both Italian riders lapping very close to the circuit record, but Iannone’s day was ruined towards the end of the session by a crash at the Arrabbiata 2 corner, in which the rider from Vasto bruised his left shoulder. Later in the afternoon he went for a medical check in Cattolica with Dr. Giuseppe Porcellini who diagnosed him as having dislocated his left shoulder. Over the next three days Iannone will follow treatment agreed with his specialist, with the aim of lining up for the start of the French GP at Le Mans.
Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 1’47.5, 85 laps total
“It was for sure an interesting test, because testing before a race is always useful, and we were able to evaluate some solutions that during the GPs we find it difficult to do. In the end it was a useful two-day test and I am happy with how I was doing, even though unfortunately today at the end of the session I crashed at Arrabbiata 2 and banged my left shoulder pretty hard. In any case I’m satisfied with the way we are working, especially because the bike is still new and so we need to try different solutions in order to find the best set-up.”
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1’47.8, 91 laps total
“I am very happy with this test, because it helped us to understand the Desmosedici GP15 better. In the first four GPs of this year, we have always tried to improve the bike, but it is very complicated to do this during the race weekend. Instead, having a day and a half to do so, in ideal weather conditions, gives you the possibility of knowing that you can work in the best possible way. The test confirmed to us that at Jerez we did not go in the right direction, and so we made a few modifications, found the right feeling again and we are fast here once again. For sure, we still have room to improve, but we’ve done a good job in any case and so we go to Le Mans feeling pretty confident.”
