Casey Stoner poised to test new carbon swingarm

Former world champion Casey Stoner will evaluate a new stiffer carbon fibre swingarm when MotoGP winter testing resumes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia tomorrow (Thursday).

Designed to improve outright rear traction on the Aussie’s new GP10 machine, Stoner will run back-to-back tests against an older carbon fibre swingarm that he used intermittently during the 2009 world championship campaign.

The 24-year-old could assess three different swingarms with the option to run a conventional aluminium version still able for the 2007 world champion, who finished second in Sepang earlier this month.

Ducati team boss Vittoriano Guareschi told MCN: “We have a completely new carbon fibre swingarm to test basically to improve the outright traction.

“With carbon fibre you can be much more precise with the stiffness, so this is why we are continuing to assess this type of swingarm.

“We want more rear grip without losing the feel for Casey, so everything is always a compromise.”