Ducati MotoGP test in France

by Dave · May 22, 2008

ducati motogp testing Ducati have come away from post race testing in France after the LeMan MotoGP race with problems identified.

stoner

Monday May 19 2008

Test after French GP – day 1

The Ducati Marlboro Team have concluded day one of testing at Le Mans today in cool and cloudy conditions. Thankfully the weather did not interrupt the riders’ programme and both Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri were able to work on various aspects of the set-up of their GP8 machines, as well as trying a variety of new Bridgestone tyres.

Stoner completed 50 laps on race tyres and worked on the electronics with the aim of improving engine performance. During a five-laps run, in which the Australian used a particularly encouraging rear tyre, he clocked a best time of 1’33.994.

Melandri worked relentlessly over 63 laps on the set-up of his machine but was unable to find any significant steps forward. The pair will be back on track tomorrow for the second and final day of tests in France before the next appointment for the Ducati Marlboro Team: the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on 1st June.

Circuit Record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha – 2008) 1’34.215
Pole record: Dani Pedrosa (Honda – 2008) 1’32.647

Unofficial lap times: Monday 19th May

Dani PEDROSA (Honda) 1’33.106
Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha) 1’33.661
Casey STONER (Ducati) 1’33.994 (race tyres)
Chris VERMEULEN (Suzuki) 1’34.108
John HOPKINS (Kawasaki) 1’34.484
Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki) 1’34.730
Nicky HAYDEN (Honda) 1’34.752
Shinya NAKANO (Honda) 1’34.911
Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda) 1’34.926
Anthony WEST (Kawasaki) 1’35.082
Marco MELANDRI (Ducati) 1’36.064 (race tyres)
Erwan NIGON (Honda) 1’37.389
Olivier JACQUE (Kawasaki) 1’37.424

Tuesday May 20 2008

Test after French GP – day 2

A second day of post-race testing at Le Mans concluded early when the Ducati Corse engineers, studying the data in their possession, singled out the component that caused the breakdown of Casey Stoner’s engine in the Grand Prix de France. It was therefore decided not to continue with the test in the afternoon in order to avoid further damage to other engines. Engineers back at the Borgo Panigale factory will now replace the component in question before the team’s home race at Mugello in just over a week’s time.

However, sunshine yesterday and today had allowed Stoner to complete the majority of work planned for this test and the Australian was straight back on the pace this morning on race tyres.

Marco Melandri completed only a handful of laps today. With lower ambient and track temperatures he waited until 10:30 before taking to the track, and then he also stop at the lunchtime break, at 12:00.

Unofficial lap times 20th May (just morning session)

Casey STONER (Ducati) 1:34.068
Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha) 1:34.599
Erwan NIGON (Honda) 1:37.371
Marco MELANDRI (Ducati) 1:38.53

melandri