UK-based company FTR denies developing aluminium chassis for Ducati Desmosedici GP – MotoGP news
FTR has declined the speculation that it has been assigned to develop an aluminium chassis for the Ducati Desmosedici GP.
An FTR spokesman said, “We have had no contact from Ducati and we are not making any kind of frame, aluminium or otherwise for them. We have significant commitments with Moto2 and a CRT MotoGP team, plus we also have another commission with Norton for their
Senior TT project for next season.”
The rumour claimed that Ducati had contacted the UK-based chassis company FTR to develop a conventional aluminium frame for the Desmosedici GP. Ducati have no previous experience building an aluminium frame like Japanese manufacturers.
On the other side, Ducati boss, Filippo Preziosi has also hinted to test new components for the development of the Ducati bike. Though he claims not to move out of the conventional parts but has also shown slight tendency to take a step in new direction.
During the post race test at Brno, Valentino Rossi strongly recommended to replace the carbon fibre chassis used in the present prototype.
Ducati are currently using the engine as a stressed part of the chassis with carbon fibre air-box and engine mounted carbon fibre swing arm. This causes the bike to lose feel from the tarmac.
In order to improve the front-end feel from his bike, Rossi has made changes in the bottom of front forks including the front axle. The modifications provided better feel and flexibility to his ride. Some other changes were also made at steering mount bearings’
position.
During the Brno weekend, a team engineer revealed to the media that Ducati has assigned a foreign company to design and build a Delta box style aluminium frame, which will be more similar to the Japanese machines.
However, for the moment Rossi has improved his GP11.1 at the Brno test and is looking forward to use those upgrades at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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