Valentino Rossi’s Ducati… Partly Aluminum
Cycle News Staff | September 15, 2011
Valentino Rossi will ride a Ducati that features at least a portion of its chassis made from aluminum when practice gets started at Motoland Aragon tomorrow in Spain.Rossi confirmed that the Ducati’s chassis has evolved in the pre-event press conference held today at the remote circuit in north eastern Spain.
“We tried something different in the bike [at a recent test in Mugello] to improve the front feeling and turning,” Rossi said today. “I was a bit faster than the last time, but especially the feeling is quite good. So we are looking forward.”When questioned directly about the use of an aluminum frame, Rossi said: “It’s not a frame. The philosophy of Ducati remains the same. The front part of the bike is a bit different and is aluminum and not carbon fiber like it was before, it’s a question of time with regards to the material. We have to work, to try to understand, and with aluminum we need a lot less time than the carbon. It’s just the first step, we’ll keep working and we’ll try to come back and fight for the front positions.”Rossi also confirmed that he will race in the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi after earlier saying that he might not go.”I will go to Japan for the race. All the tests are negative, it looks quite safe so yes, I will go to race at Motegi,” he said.
