Ducati boss Filippo Preziosi tight-lipped about change in frame of Desmosedici – MotoGP news
Ducati team’s technical head Filippo Preziosi has been discreet about switching of the frame type in the Desmosedici GP.
After a lot of changes and test runs the Italian veteran, Valentino Rossi suggested replacing the carbon fibre frame with a more conventional aluminium frame as used by Japanese rivals.
Preziosi said, “We tested, in 2009, aluminium chassis so that's not new. As I said many times, it is not the material that makes the difference but we are thinking about solutions in order to have better turning of the bike and a better feeling.”
However, the technical boss has opted to stick to the basic idea for a long time. Occasionally, he has expressed that the material of the components is not the key to progress rather the design is.
Preziosi added, “I am happy that my company give me the freedom to do what we think is important to design, to build and to test. The most important thing for Ducati is to build knowledge - even testing solutions that are not our background.”
Preziosi added on to say that the Italian factory has always supported his new ideas to develop and test various kinds of components. Along with the new ideas, he is also convinced to keep the plans secret until the tests are conducted.
Presently, the aim is to build a bike which will help the rider to optimise his peak performance within the safety limits. Somehow, he thinks that the power is not the main issue but consistency is. If the feedback from the rear end is improved, the riders
will also gain confidence aboard it.
During previous test at the factory, the bike was tested with different levels of flexibility. The riders did say that the step was right but the level needed to be extended.
So the changes with respect to rider’s feedback will be made in the next test session. It might be the frame type or other components but it is a secret yet. It is also speculated that Rossi will be testing an aluminium frame on GP12 at Mugello on the coming
weekend.
Preziosi briefly explained the technical aspect of the frame that when the bike is leaned to 60 degrees the suspension locks itself and stops the feedback from the tarmac. It eventually causes the chatter problem. This is one of the reasons Honda tested
and designed eight frames in the 2011 season.
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