Valentino Rossi’s development skills vital for Ducati

Ducati is finally starting to reap the rewards of having the technical skills of Valentino Rossi develop its factory GP11 MotoGP machine, according to factory team boss Vittoriano Guareschi.

Rossi has already started to instigate a major overhaul of this year’s Desmosedici with new a electronics package and revised carbon fibre chassis introduced recently.

A new engine spec, featuring a heavier crankshaft, will also be introduced imminently for Rossi and Nicky Hayden.

Rossi scored his first Ducati podium in Le Mans earlier this month but his mission is to make the Bologna factory a more consistent challenger for race wins.

Guareschi said Rossi’s precise and accurate feedback on machine development was clearly helping Ducati engineers understand clearly how to improve the bike now the 32-year-old is nearing full fitness.

Guareschi told MCN: “We’ve made all these new parts because Valentino is very clear with the engineers and he is very precise about what he feels from the bike. Valentino speaks with the bike and after that he speaks with the engineers and explains exactly what he wants in a very clear way. For the engineers it is then easy for them to make a new part with Valentino because they have a clear direction.”