IRTA Tests - Catalunya - Preview Barcelona, 18-20 March
2005
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RETURNS TO EUROPE FOR IRTA TEST AT BARCELONA,
FIRST OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT OF THE 2005 MOTOGP SEASON
After a lengthy series of winter tests, Loris Capirossi and
Carlos Checa are ready for the first official confrontation
of the season.
After a positive conclusion to the winter test schedule,
which saw the Ducati Marlboro Team involved at faraway circuits
in Sepang, Phillip Island and Doha, the Italian squad returns
to Europe for the first official appointments of the 2005
MotoGP season: the IRTA Tests at Barcelona and Jerez.
Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa will be back on their Desmosedici
GP5 machines, ready to face up to their rivals in what promises
to be a long season ahead but motivation is high due to the
excellent results achieved by both riders in the past at the
Montmelò circuit. Loris, on his debut with Ducati,
set quickest time in the IRTA Test two years ago and then,
a few months later, took the top podium slot in the race.
Carlos, in front of his home crowd, scored a first-ever 500
win here in 1996. The positive results of the winter tests
have helped fuel the motivation of Ducati Marlboro Team engineers
and riders in view of the start of the 2005 MotoGP championship.
"It is with great pleasure that we return to Barcelona.
On this track Loris has given us some incredible moments of
joy, such as the surprising fastest lap he set during the
2003 IRTA Test or the first win of the Ducati Marlboro Team
in the sixth Gp of the same year. This is also Carlos's home
track and it is particularly dear to him as he scored his
first 500 win here in 1996. I am sure that both our riders
can't wait to take part in this first real confrontation"
declared Livio Suppo, MotoGP project manager. "The results
of the winter tests are very encouraging and they demonstrate
that the technical decisions taken have put the development
of the Desmosedici on the right track. The collaboration with
Bridgestone is also continuing well and is giving great satisfaction
to both parties. I believe that all the conditions are there
for an interesting season ahead! Now all we have to do is
wait for Sunday afternoon, when we will see what the lap times
are like".
Encouraged and motivated by the pre-season tests, Loris Capirossi
is raring to get back onto his Desmosedici GP5 at the Spanish
circuit. "We worked a lot during the winter, both on
the track and in the company, and I am curious to see how
we go against all the other riders at what is universally
considered to be more or less the first 'race' of the season"
declared Loris. "I have splendid memories of Barcelona
and hopefully I'll be able to add some new ones!".
Ready for his first official outing on a factory Ducati machine,
Carlos Checa is also anxious to face up to all his rivals.
"Here I took part in my first race in the 125 world
championship as a wild-card and three years later I scored
my first win in 500. All of my friends will be there to cheer
me on and this year they will see me on a Ducati: that's an
emotional feeling!" commented Carlos. "I am pleased
with the way the bike improved over the winter, I know that
we still have to work hard to be up with the front-runners
but I am ready. I know that the Desmosedici adapts well to
this track and I hope that we can get the most out of these
three days of testing".
At Barcelona the Ducati Marlboro Team factory riders will
also be flanked by Vittoriano Guareschi with the Development
Team and Shinichi Ito, who will be working with the Bridgestone
technicians.
Vitto will continue the development, which began at Jerez
in February, of a new system of engine braking modulation.
This is a special software designed by Ducati Corse that acts
on engine and clutch management parameters to give greater
stability under braking by reducing the rear-wheel braking
effect which is common with four-stroke machines.
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