Ducati to test new 1000cc MotoGP bike in Jerez

Ducati plans to shakedown its new 1000cc MotoGP bike at the Jerez circuit in Spain later this week, MCN can reveal.

Dyno testing has been completed and Ducati team boss Vittoriano Guareschi confirmed that durability tests were due to finish in Bologna tonight (Saturday).

Ducati’s technical guru Filippo Preziosi plans to build-up an early prototype GP12 in time for it to be shipped to Jerez for Guareschi and fellow development rider Franco Battaini to test.

The Bologna factory has a three-day test booked at the Jerez from Thursday (April 7) to evaluate a series of modifications to the current 800cc GP11 machine, including a revamped engine.

The new engine is believed to feature a heavier crankshaft and revised firing order to help tame an aggressive power delivery, which has been one of Valentino Rossi’s biggest complaints since he first rode the GP11 in Valencia last November.

A new carbon fibre chassis that Ducati is currently working on could also be ready for this week’s Jerez test. But it is more likely that Rossi will debut the frame at a one-day test immediately after the Estoril MotoGP race in Portugal early next month.

Guareschi told MCN: “The 1000cc engine is on the dyno to check the performance and durability and tonight (Saturday) we finish the reliability test and maybe next week we try the bike. 

“If the durability is fine then Filippo has made a bike and maybe on Saturday it is possible to have a bike for a shakedown. This first step is only to test the engine.  The rest of the bike we will make when we have a definite direction for the chassis. 

“When Valentino makes a choice we will build a bike according to this. It is important now to put kilometres on the engine, both on the dyno and the track.”