Here is a picture of the new aluminum-framed Ducati GP12 that will begin testing tomorrow at Sepang under factory riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden. This is the all-new bike that was rushed through development in the last six weeks . . . only previously tested by WSB champ Carlos Checa and another factory test rider.
We will see at Sepang who is fast and who is not. We suspect Ducati will be a step or two behind both Honda and Yamaha, but the time sheet won’t lie, and we will bring you updates on the testing.
He’s GOTTA love it. Ain’t much more to do.
All the best – we’ll be watchin.
Rossi (2.01.886) was just 1 second back of Stoner (1st @ 2.00.895) today. Not bad at all considering the bike only had 6 weeks of development.
Just 0.735 seconds back on day 1. Good work!
Well within striking distance. Very impressive effort.
I know the way a bike looks has little to do with how it performs, but that bike looks like a Kawasaki MotoGP bike (and that ain’t a compliment…).
Might be a better racebike, this class needs some diversity, not another cookie cutter. Aluminum frame, V4, hmmmm. Isn’t this an Aprillia? Wait, they wouldn’t allow that one. Who cares anymore, I’ll wait for WSB.
Team manager Vito Guareschi says he hope to be within 1.5 seconds of the Hondas at their first outing at Sepang.
Sounds like he’s setting his sights pretty high for a brand new out-of-the-box bike. Good luck to him!