Valencia Test Session
Day 3 - Positive end to final test of 2009 for Ducati MotoGP TeamNovember 11
The Ducati MotoGP Team completed its final test session of 2009 in positive fashion today as Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden ended up fastest and third fastest respectively on the time sheets at Valencia.
The pair have been impressed with the updates to their machine brought to the circuit by Filippo Preziosi and the whole team is now looking forward to next season, with preparations due to continue in Malaysia nella during the first week of February.
Nicky Hayden (Ducati MotoGP Team), 3rd; 1’32.805: (48 laps)
“We worked on confirming a few things today and I think we found what we were looking for. I like the changes we’ve introduced to the bike, the power delivery is definitely more progressive although we still need to find the ideal setting for it. I got my lap times down by a couple of tenths today, thanks to the new Bridgestone tyres, which are great. I’m happy – I think we’re on the right tracks and we have had three important days here that should help us make a lot of progress in the next test and close the gap to the front guys down even more. I want to thank the team because it is never easy after a such a demanding season and a long weekend to go testing for three days. So thanks to all my mechanics and to my brother Tommy for being here with me, and everybody working back at Ducati. I think we can all be proud of the progress we have made this season and look ahead to next year in really positive spirits.”
Casey Stoner (Ducati MotoGP Team) 1st; 1’31.899 (35 laps)
“We were able to understand the bike a little better today and the fantastic weather conditions certainly helped. It was a pleasant surprise when we got up this morning and it allowed us to work well. I’m satisfied with this three day test and with the new characteristics of the bike, in particular the extra traction in corner exit. It is still difficult to figure out exactly the best time to open the throttle but we’re getting there and it is a case of more practice and improving the set-up. It is nice to be going into the break in good physical shape, without any injuries to get over like in the past two years, so that we can formulate a physical training programme to be in the best possible shape for next season.”
Lap times Wednesday 11th November
1.Stoner (Ducati) 1.31.899 (25 of 35)
2.Pedrosa (Honda) 1.31.944 (38 of 38)
3.Hayden (Ducati) 1.32.805 (11 of 48)
4.Dovizioso (Honda) 1.32.825 (50 of 51)
5.Melandri (Honda) 1.32.935 (29 of 36)
6.Kallio (Ducati) 1.32.988 (29 of 39)
7.Espargaro (Ducati) 1.33.275 (40 of 55)
8.Capirossi (Suzuki) 1.33.588 (31 of 43)
9.Barbera (Ducati) 1.33.786 (42 of 57)
10.Simoncelli (Honda) 1.33.857 (27 of 35)
11.Bautista (Suzuki) 1.34.163 (16 of 45)
12.Aoyama (Honda) 1.34.821 (45 of 47)
13.Elias (Morwaki-Gresini) 1.39.151 (9 of 12)
Day Two - Stoner & Hayden both in top fiveNovember 10
Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden ended the second day of testing at Valencia inside the top five fastest riders on track.
Both riders began lapping at around midday because even though the sun was out and the wind had dropped this morning compared to yesterday the track surface was still cold. Stoner finished shortly after 4pm, having set the second fastest lap of the day. As well as continuing to work on new forks and a revised engine configuration, the Australian also tested a new soft rear tyre brought to the circuit by Bridgestone for use by all of the MotoGP riders.
Hayden also continued with a variety of set-up and tyre experiments, completing no fewer than 84 laps and clocking the fifth fastest time.
Nicky Hayden (Ducati MotoGP Team), 5th fastest; 1’32. 981: (84 laps)
“Today we worked mainly on confirming our impressions from yesterday, running some more tests on the new forks and a bunch of other things on the bike set-up and with the new tyres. We have improved a few tenths here and there – the gap to the really fast group is still there but it has been a positive day, we have done a lot of laps and gathered a lot of data. We’ll do some more tests tomorrow on the engine settings and other set-up alterations. We also need to push hard to get the lap times down and close that gap to the lead group.”
Casey Stoner (Ducati MotoGP Team) 2nd fastest; 1’32.195 (44 laps)
“We weren’t able to make much use of the day yesterday because of the high winds but today the conditions were much better. The new engine setting, which I am preferring so far, changes the performance of the bike in different ways, for example in corner exit, so we have to modify the set-up in order to get the most out of it. I also have to get used to it and adapt my riding style accordingly. It probably means I can’t get on the gas as hard and fast out of the corners but can keep it open more further in the corners. We also tried out the new Bridgestone, which seem to work well. In general I’m very pleased with how things are going.”
Ducati MotoGP Team Start Work for 2010
Less than 24 hours after the 2009 season had concluded the Ducati MotoGP Team was back on track at Valencia as Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden completed their first day of testing for the 2010. Warm sunshine and strong winds welcomed the riders onto the track for the afternoon session, with a full day's work scheduled for Tuesday and another half day on Wednsday, when the track will close at 13:00.
Stoner and Hayden enjoyed a positive day, clocking the fastest and fifth fastest times respectively.
Nicky Hayden (Ducati MotoGP Team), 5th; 1’33.358: (58 laps)
“I was really looking forward to getting back out on track today and starting work on next season. We have a direction to work in and loads of work to do but we made a lot of progress already today. We don't have a lot of tyres available and just worked with two sets - a hard one and a softer one - with very similar times on both that were not far off my qualifying time from Saturday. We tried some engine updates on one of the bikes, some forks and a couple of different settings but this is just the start and it is early to say which is best because the lap times have been very similar. Generally it's been a good first day and I'm happy."
Casey Stoner (Ducati MotoGP Team) 1st; 1’32.660 (32 laps)
“We tried a new engine configuration designed at improving the rideability of the bike and for the moment it is going really well. The feedback is more smooth and we improved traction with the same set-up we used over the weekend, so that is positive. We also tried some different forks and in general I am satisfied. We didn't do many laps today - just tried to make sure we were working in the right direction. I think we are and I can't wait to get back on track tomorrow, when hopefully it won't be as windy."
Today's unofficial lap times
1. Stoner (Ducati) 1.32.660 (22 of 32 laps)
2. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1.32.685 (40 of 45)
3. Rossi (Yamaha) 1.32.826 (26 of 37)
4. Pedrosa (Honda) 1.33.068 (23 of 31)
5. Hayden (Ducati) 1.33.358 (55 58)
6. Spies (Yamaha 1.33.496 (47 of 50)
7. Dovizioso (Honda) 1.33.675 (38 of 51)
8. Kallio (Ducati) 1.33.726 (41 of 52)
9. De Puniet (Honda) 1.33.775 (49 of 61)
10. Melandri (Honda) 1.33.830 (57of 59)
11. Espargaro (Ducati) 1.33.878 (55 of 63)
12. Edwards (Yamaha) 1.33.929 (28 of 35)
13. Capirossi (Suzuki) 1.34.144 ( 23 of 55)
14. Simoncelli (Honda 1.35.229 (50 of 51)
15. Bautista (Suzuki) 1.35.772 (51 of 52)
16. Barbera (Ducati) 1.36.204 (59 of 63)
17. Aoyama (Honda) 1.37.964 (39 of 40)
