IRTA team tests, Catalunya, Spain
Saturday March 19 2005
DUCATI MARLBORO MEN TRY NEW ENGINE-BRAKING SYSTEM
 Ducati
Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa tried
the factory's new engine-braking system for the first time
at Catalunya today. Both men reckoned the new system, which
has been extensively tested by test rider Vitto Guareschi,
to be very promising. However, their progress was interrupted
by two unrelated tumbles - Capirossi suffering a highside
crash on the exit of turn three, Checa slipping off as he
rode through the first chicane. Both riders will be able to
continue testing tomorrow, the last day of this three-day
teams test session.
"The crashes were a shame because they interrupted
our work and prevented us from completing today's tyre testing
programme with Bridgestone," explained Ducati Marlboro
Team Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli. "On the
other hand we are happy that both Loris and Carlos were able
to test the new engine-braking system for the first time.
Vitto has done a lot of debugging and set-up work with the
system and both our Factory riders reckon it's already good
and neither of them had any problems with it. We may continue
testing it at Jerez next week, because tomorrow we want to
focus on testing tyres. I think the system is a very promising
new development, though it's too early to say when we will
race with it. All I can say about the system at this stage
is that it's special software that manages both engine and
clutch for improved stability during braking, whereas last
year we used an idle-control system. Some people seem to think
we are using a semi-automatic gearbox here but we have no
such thing. We tested a semi-automatic gearbox on a Superbike
some years ago but we've never tried one on our MotoGP bike."
CAPIROSSI: 'NEW SYSTEM HAS GOOD POTENTIAL'
Loris Capirossi evaluated the new engine-braking system this
morning, focusing more on development work than on lap times.
This afternoon he was lucky to escape pretty much unscathed
from a spectacular highside tumble. The Ducati Marlboro Team
man fell as he powered out of turn three.
"We started the day testing the new engine-braking system
which seems to have good potential but, of course, needs more
development work," said Capirossi, 12th quickest today.
"Because we were focusing on evaluating the system we
weren't able to really work on the rest of the bike. So we
still haven't found the perfect set-up for this track, which
is what we will work on tomorrow."
CRASH STOPS CHECA EARLY
Carlos Checa was baffled by his crash, which happened midway
through turn two (the left-hander in the first chicane) with
no brake or throttle input. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider
suffered bruising to his left shoulder and calf and underwent
treatment at the Clinica Mobile to ensure he's in good shape
for testing tomorrow.
"The crash stopped me from doing more work on the new
engine-braking system, which was a shame," said the Spaniard
who ended the day 14th quickest. "I only didi two runs
with this system, so I didn't have enough time to fully understand
it but I'm sure we will keep working on it at the next tests".
Capirossi: 1'43.731
Checa: 1'43.882
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