DUCATI XEROX:

A cooler, overcast day characterised day two of testing at the Portimao circuit as Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio and their technicians continued work where they had left off yesterday.

Over the two days Noriyuki has tested the new clutch and is happy with the initial results, citing it as a good starting point for 2010. He also used the new fork but declared at the end of testing that he prefers his usual one. Michel meanwhile continued to ride with the new fork, testing too the new shock provided by Ohlins and he was very comfortable, able to record some ery fast lap times.

Average lap times were very similar to yesterday with Michel able to improve on his best time by a few tenths of a second, once again one of the fastest riders on track during the morning session, along with Noriyuki and Brits Jonathan Rea (Honda), Leon Haslam on board the Suzuki and Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow.

Both Ducati Xerox riders finished up at lunchtime, with the testing having been declared a success.

Noriyuki Haga
“Today we tried the new front fork and it felt quite similar to the one I use already but overall I prefer the one I have used up until now, the new one didn’t give me anything extra. I worked with the new clutch which is a bit of a different concept but it gave me a good feeling and it definitely has potential. I’m happy with how it’s gone here but to be honest I’m ready to go home as it’s been a long week.”

Michel Fabrizio
“I continued to test the fork that we used yesterday and I also tried the new shock. With the bike in its 2009 configuration but with the new shock mounted I was immediately half a second faster so it seems to be a big improvement. I’m very happy with the times as me and Jonathan were again the fastest out there and I’d say the testing has finished on a very positive note.”

ALTHEA DUCATI:

Second and last of the two-day test session for Ducati Althea Racing Team at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao. Under a gray and cloudy sky, Carlos Checa also spent his second day of testing on adapting his riding style to his new bike. On the second and final day Checa showed major improvements during the course of the day. He continued to make important progress on board his Ducati 1098 machine and was able to improve his pace and set his best lap time (1:43.423).

Carlos Checa: “I’m thoroughly satisfied with the results of these last two days of testing. Today we also improved yesterday’s results. I was also able to terminate one long run and I established a good pace even though this will not be the bike we’ll use in the next 2010 World Superbike Championship. I still have to adapt my riding style to this new bike but I really enjoy riding the Ducati 1098. In any case, the most important aspect of the two-day test session is that I realized that we have the base and potential to reach very good results. The team has been great with me and we’re working really well together”.

Genesio Bevilacqua – General Manager: ”This second day test was better compared with the first one (yesterday). Carlos now knows how to better ride our Ducati 1098. He was able to improve yesterday’s best lap time and to steadily reach very fast lap times (1:43.5 – 1:43.7). We are satisfied with the results reached today and know that if we continue to work in this manner we’ll reach important targets and we’ll compete for top positions”.