Ducati Marlboro Team preview
Catalunya Official MotoGP tests, March 3/4/5 2006
BIG TEAMS GATHER IN SPAIN FOR MotoGP HORS D'OEUVRE
The Catalunya Official MotoGP test session of March 3/4/5
is the first official engagement of the 2006 MotoGP World
Championship, designed as a tantalising hors d'oeuvre to what
is arguably the most keenly awaited season in bike racing
history.
The event unites all the 2006 MotoGP teams for the first time
in Europe and will offer a fascinating insight into which
riders will be racing up front at the season-opening Spanish
GP on March 26.
Like most other MotoGP outfits, the Ducati Marlboro Team has
been busy in recent weeks attending private tests in Malaysia
and Australia where Loris Capirossi and new-signing Sete Gibernau
have topped the times on several occasions. Their impressive
pace takes them to Catalunya in optimistic mood.
The Desmosedici GP6 is an evolution of last year's superb
GP5 which won two MotoGP races. The bike has undergone a multitude
of detail upgrades to improve all-round performance. The engine
produces more power in a more controlled manner and uses less
fuel, thanks to painstaking work on engine management and
internal friction. The bike is also lighter and stiffer, following
refinements to the frame, wheel rims and front forks, and
also benefits from the impressive progress made by Bridgestone
tyres. All in all, the GP6 is a more rider-friendly package,
designed to give Capirossi and Gibernau competitive performance
throughout the 17-race World Championship.
Livio Suppo, Ducati MotoGP project leader
"Catalunya is a big weekend for everyone, with an atmosphere
similar to a real race! After many tests in faraway countries
it's nice to be back in Europe. And it's great that most of
our tests have gone well for us, apart from our last visit
to Sepang which was spoiled by rain and Sete's sickness.
I'm very happy with the atmosphere within the team. Loris
and Sete know each other well and are working together very
effectively, which is so important at this stage of the season.
The same goes for our people at the factory and also at Bridgestone
- everyone is showing their usual commitment to development.
In particular I would like to thank one of our most important
technical partners, Shell Advance. We recently signed a three-year
renewal of our partnership, because their knowledge and support
is one of the key points in our success."
Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro Team rider
"I'm really looking forward to the Catalunya tests because
it's the first official appointment of 2006 and it opens a
new and exciting season. We are happy with the work we've
done during our winter tests, every session has been very
positive and profitable, except maybe for our most recent
Sepang test which was affected by rain.
"The new GP6 is already as competitive as the GP5 was
last year. I'm really pleased about this because we can only
improve from what is already a good base. Catalunya will be
very important because it will help us to understand the full
extent of progress made by Bridgestone. I've got great confidence
in Bridgestone and in the team and I'm ready to work hard,
to close my visor and open the throttle!"
Sete Gibernau, Ducati Marlboro Team rider
"The team and I are working really well together, it's
a real pleasure to work with people who show such passion
and commitment.
"We have been chipping away at a few things, several
aspects of the bike that we need to understand better. At
the moment the whole ball game is making the bike more predictable
and consistent, so we can have a machine that gives consistent
performance at every track and throughout the whole race.
I want to instil this mentality, so that Ducati can have a
bike that can fight for podium at every race, not just in
some races. In this respect Catalunya is going to be very
important for us, just like every test session."
|
