Paul Carruthers | September 8, 2011
While what exactly he was testing is open for debate, there’s no denying that Valentino Rossi joined the Ducati test team today for its final day of a three-day test at Mugello in Italy.According to Ducati, it was Rossi’s sixth day on the 2012 race bike. The multi-time World Champion completed 82 laps on the GP12 and one of those laps included a crash on the exit of the Scarperia-Palagio section during what was his third go-around in his morning session.
Many have speculated that Rossi was testing an aluminum chassis.”It was an interesting day, although it was also quite long, because we rode until 6:30,” Rossi said in a team release. “Developing a bike requires a lot of focus and effort, but it’s also very exciting and fulfilling to be part of a group of people pushing as hard as it can in the same direction. Today we confirmed various aspects of the GP12’s electronics and chassis, collecting a lot of useful information for Filippo and the guys in the factory. I think that the work is well underway as we prepare for our next steps.”
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
