Andrea Dovizioso: New Ducati delay not ideal

Andrea Dovizioso fears Ducati will miss out on precious development time for 2015 after Bologna factory bosses confirmed next year’s radical new Desmosedici will not be ready for testing at the end of the current season.

New technical boss Gigi Dall’Igna is in the process of a complete re-design of the Desmosedici, which has not won a race since the end of 2010.

But hopes that the new GP15 will be ready in time for a public debut at the first winter showdown in Valencia on November 10 have been dashed.

Dall’Igna confirmed recently that the new bike will not be ready for Dovizioso and new teammate Andrea Iannone to evaluate until the first test of 2015 at the Sepang track in Valencia next February.

One of the main goals for Dall’Igna and his technical staff is to rid the Desmosedici of a long-running understeer issue.

But to ensure that the new GP15 is competitive from the word go, Dall’Igna said it was better to take time in development of the new bike.

“I prefer to start 2015 late but with the right machine, “said the former Aprilia boss.

Dovizioso, who has been the standout Ducati rider in 2014 with three front row starts and two podium finishes, said it was disappointing he wouldn’t get to assess the GP15 during the three-day post race test in Valencia.

Ducati could have gathered vital data and then had three months to work on the bike in advance of the resumption of pre-season testing in Malaysia in early February.

The former 125GP world champion, who narrowly missed a brilliant British GP podium after battling with Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa, told MCN: “It is not the best situation. If we are able to test the bike in Valencia it is better because you have a few months to work and data to arrive in Malaysia in a better way. But this is the schedule and it is fine to try in February if the bike works. If the bike works it is no problem.”

Ducati is planning to roll out a revised GP14 later this month in the Motorland Aragon round, which will feature a new engine and chassis.