Dovizioso hits the wall in Ducati development at Sepang

Factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso has left the first test of the season at Sepang disappointed with his final of the three-day test, after admitting that the team had temporarily hit the limit of what they could do away from the workshop.

“The final day was more difficult than Tuesday, because we had a few issues that unfortunately we could not resolve here and which slowed us the entire day. We did some tests with used tyres and the bike improved but then we encountered another problem towards the end of the session.

“It’s a pity, but I feel sure that in Australia we will be able to carry out our programme better once we’ve solved the problems back home.”

Disappointed to finished the test back in sixteenth overall – and embarrassingly, nearly a second off test rider Casey Stoner, who finished fourth – the Borgo Panigale factory now face a race against time as they work to prepare their new GP16 machine for the next round of testing in Philip Island in under two weeks time.

However, despite the lack of track time, the Italian has been left reassured by his limited time on the new bike, admitting afterwards that it was a definite improvement right across the board over the GP15 machine he took to five podiums in 2015.

“I am happy with the good feeling I managed to find right away with the new Desmosedici GP. There are some positive aspects which I picked up on immediately: good handling, better precision in both changes of direction and corner turn-in, and other improvements in the bike’s overall behaviour.”