As we reported yesterday, Valentino Rossi carried out another test session with the Ducati GP12 at the Mugello circuit.
This the third day of testing of the new GP bike after the previous two days that were carried out at Jerez by Rossi and Nicky Hayden.
Rossi did 60 laps to evalute the further developments that Filippo Preziosi had planned and Vitto Guareschi and Franco Battaini assessed on Tuesday and Wednesday, before handing the GP12 to their factory rider to have his feedback.
Unfortunately for us, Ducati has decided to still keep under wraps any photos of their new 2012 Superbike, dubbed by many as the ‘Extreme 1200′, which was also at the Mugello with Danilo Petrucci, who currently rides for the Ducati-Barni team in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, as the test rider.
“I’m pleased, because it was a positive test,” said Valentino at day’s end.
“We took full advantage of the time we had, because the track and weather conditions were perfect.
I liked the new asphalt a lot.
The surface is smooth, those holes that I knew so well are now gone, and the grip is fantastic.
I must say they’ve done a great job, because if it’s possible, riding here at Mugello is now even better than before.
I’m happy to have come back here to test after my injury last year, because it was a nice feeling and a good day.
We started around 11:00 this morning, and we completed sixty laps in all—many kilometers without any problems, either physical or with the GP12.
We tested everything that Filippo had planned to try, and we’re satisfied because, although we’re still at a pretty early stage, we’re going in the right direction.
”“We completed our second day of testing the GP12 with Vale,” said Filippo Preziosi.
“I must say it’s a strange sensation, but also a really nice one, to be here at Mugello with Valentino, on a track where we’ve been rivals so many times in the past.
We worked on the electronics and various other updates to next season’s bike, some of which were made following the requests that Vale and Nicky had given us during their first outing with the bike about a month ago at Jerez.
It was a useful and positive test that will enable us to continue with the development of the GP12, which has some new details coming soon.
Working with Valentino is always very nice from a technical perspective, and we were lucky with the weather, as we had perfect conditions.
Vale also really appreciated the new asphalt: we have to compliment the folks at Mugello, because they really did a great job.
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