Valentino Rossi to test deltabox aluminium frame

Valentino Rossi will test a conventional deltabox aluminium chassis on Ducati’s factory GP12 machine in Jerez later this week after the Italian’s woeful 2011 continued at the Motorland Aragon.

The new frame is similar to the concept used by Ducati’s Japanese rivals and it is the latest in a long line of radical changes introduced to give Rossi a bike he can fight for victories on.

The new twin spar chassis was designed in Bologna and fabricated in the UK by frame experts FTR.

The 32-year-old has tried three major re-designed concepts in 2011 with little success, including a new flexible carbon fibre frame after the Estoril round.

He then rode a GP11.1 Desmosedici featuring new seamless shift gearbox, swingarm and rear suspension system from Assen onwards.

And at the Motorland Aragon race last weekend he rode with an aluminium frame, but not a full delatbox version like the one he will use on Friday.

The nine-times world champion continues to be handicapped by a chronic understeer issue and vague front-end feeling with this year’s Desmosedici.

For more on this story, see tomorrow’s Motorcycle News.