Alstare Ducati’s three day private test session at Jerez de la Frontera that started yesterday (Saturday, January 19th) ahead of 2013 World Superbike championship that kicks off at Phillip Island, has so far has been hampered by strong rain showers and blustery winds.
Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini were going to use the three days to give the new 1199R Panigale bikes in Superbike configuration a shakedown test, however the two riders along with with Ducati’s MotoGP test team – Franco Battaini and Michele Pirro have been forced to sit out most of the first two days, only able only to go out at the end of the day on a damp track to put in only a few rather useless laps.
According to GPone.
com Checa was able to complete 8 laps with a best time of 1′47”020, while Badovini did 18 and his best time in 1′47”239.
Even if the weather decides to cooperate tomorrow, Ducati will have work a massive amount of work to catch up on and with all probability will not be able to complete even partially their programme before they have to pack up and prepare for the next two test sessions that are scheduled for February in Australia, where hopefully the weather will be more benevolent.
After Ducati leaves the Spanish circuit, they will be replaced on Tuesday and Wednesday by Bmw, Aprilia, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki Superbike teams, with Kawasaki and Suzuki arriving from Almeria where the two squads were also hampered by strong gusting winds.
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