Ducati tests 2012 MotoGP bike
But is there another test going on at Mugello that the Italian motorcycle maker doesn't want us to see?
Ducati has had a couple of very important test sessions at the Mugello in the past few days, with Valentino Rossi getting a little more ride time on the 2012 Ducati Desmosedici GP12 race bike, and rumours circulating that another very important motorcycle was being tested.
Ducati Corse appears keen to get as much testing on the new 2012 MotoGP race bike as it can, and Rossi's feedback is invaluable in tuning the (allegedly) 1000cc race bike for the 2012 season as both Rossi and Hayden struggle to match the Hondas.
There's a lot of pressure on Ducati to show results after signing The Doctor to ride for the Italian team, but to outsiders it would appear as though the team is now focusing on the development of the GP12 race bike.
And then there's the other test, rumoured to be of Ducati's next generation superbike (schematic included) that will be sold to the public from 2012 and also form the basis for Ducati's tilt at the 2012 Superbike World Championship.
According to reports from Europe, Ducati will use its Mugello track booking to begin testing of the new 1200cc Superquadrata sports bike outside closed doors.
The new model will replace the Ducati 1098 super bike model range and is expected to borrow a number of elements from the Desmosedici GP11 MotoGP race bike to increase its effectiveness on the track.
Technology borrowed from the MotoGP bike, such as the carbon fibre stressed aluminium airbox/subframe, is likely to trickle down into the road bike, though expect an aluminium rather than carbon construction.
Thus far reports suggest that Italian rider Danilo Petrucci will be testing the new superbike, (he rides a Ducati 1098R in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup) but could we see Australia's Troy Bayliss also throw his leg over the machine to help fine tune the chassis and powertrain?
Stay tuned for more details on the new Ducati superbike, of which we could begin seeing footage and photos as the testing phase ramps up.
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