POSITIVE DEBUT FOR THE DESMOSEDICI GP5
From the snows of Madonna di Campiglio to the sweltering
heat of Malaysia: Loris Capirossi sets quickest time (2m02.18s)
on the first day of testing for the Ducati Marlboro Team.
Sepang (Malaysia) 23 January 2005 – Ducati Marlboro
Team engineers spent much of the first day of testing at the
Sepang circuit setting up the Desmosedici GP5 machine for
its first track appearance of 2005, while Loris Capirossi
and Carlos Checa were able to get back into the swing of testing
after the winter break.
 In
the sweltering Malaysian heat (temperatures of up to 35°C
but with bearable humidity levels of 38%), Loris and Carlos
began the Desmosedici GP5 three-day test schedule, completing
46 and 39 laps respectively. At the end of the day Capirossi
had notched up an extraordinary time of 2m02.18s while Checa,
despite still suffering from the injury he picked up at Madonna
di Campiglio, set an encouraging time of 2m03.57s.
"We spent the first part of the day checking on the
reliability of the bike to get it ready for the rest of the
test” declared Ducati Marlboro Team Technical Director
Corrado Cecchinelli. “This was the first chance for
us to see that the new design philosophy behind the Desmosedici
GP5, ‘evolution not revolution’, works. The fact
that an electrical component for example, can be interchanged
with another meant that today we could temporarily go back
to something we had used before. This enabled us to finish
the day without any problems and allow Loris to set an excellent
time.”
"It felt great to get back on the bike again after more
than a month’s inactivity” declared Loris Capirossi.
“At the end of this first day of testing I’m really
satisfied and convinced that we are going in the right direction
with the GP5. In addition I have to admit that the Bridgestone
tyres have also given me positive indications here at Sepang,
especially the front tyre. At the end of the day I even set
a great time, but we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground
and continue to work with passion and enthusiasm.”
"I couldn’t wait to get back on the track again”,
declared Carlos Checa, “but I was still in a bit of
difficulty after the banal incident at Madonna di Campiglio.
Yesterday the circuit doctor removed the stitches in my left
hand, but unfortunately the wound has not completely healed.
I was able to lap anyway with help from the special glove
brought here by Alpinestars and I could see that we were working
well.”
Loris Capirossi 2m02.18s
Carlos Checa 2m03.57s
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