Ducati Team rider Valentino Rossi to test both GP11 and GP11.1 at Laguna Seca – MotoGP news
Ducati Team rider Valentino Rossi has asked his team to take both versions of Desmosedici, the GP11 and GP11.1 to the Laguna Seca circuit in order to test them side by side.
Rossi said, “I think that we'll try to use both versions of the Desmosedici on Friday so that we can compare them and do some work for both the near term and the future, because we want to learn as much as possible. We're aware that it could be difficult
because we'll also have to be preparing for the race.”
Rossi will ride both versions during the free practice sessions and compare their performance. Since the debut of GP11.1 at Assen, Rossi has faced a significant decline in his race results. Especially after qualifying 16th for the German Grand
Prix, the Italian has been extremely disappointed with the GP11.1.
The reason to develop a new version of the GP11 was to enhance its properties with a blend of new chassis inspired from the Ducati Desmosedici GP12 prototype. It is the version being tested for racing in the MotoGP 2012 season. Unfortunately, the new version
did not meet the expectations even after being tested for three rounds since Assen.
Now both versions will be tested to their maximum in order to sort the issues hindering Rossi’s performance. In the testing process though, it will take the focus away from the race, but the Italian rider thinks it is equally important to test in order to
improve as much as possible.
Rossi commented on his racing experience at Seca and said, “For me, Laguna represents a great corner, the Corkscrew, and many nice memories, including one of the best races of my career, in 2008. In any case, it's always a pleasure to race in the United
States because the motorcycle world here is really nice.”
The Italian rider is pleased to see Jerry Burgess back in the team garage after missing the last two rounds at Mugello and Sachsenring. Let’s see how the Italian fares in the US this weekend.
Tags: