Rossi rides 1000cc Ducati GP12
The Ducati Desmosedici GP12 is a faster, louder and more powerful proposition than the current 800cc bike, and has had its first test rides in Spain
The 2012 MotoGP race bike from Ducati has already begun testing, and Valentino Rossi is a very happy chap. The new 1000cc bike, ostensibly the Desmosedici GP12, was put through its paces on the weekend by both Italian-born Rossi and his American team mate Nicky Hayden in Jerez, Spain.
On the Friday the weather was kind and according to Rossi, the new Ducati GP12 race bike was pretty schmick too. "I’m happy. I like the GP12," said the Italian motorcycle maestro.
"In my opinion, it’s more enjoyable, more fun to ride [than the current Ducati GP11]. It was the first time we had it on the track, so we had some work to do, but the engine is nicer. It’s a lot of fun, and you can do some nice slides," enthused Rossi. "It’s the bike we’ll ride next year, so it was very important — and also very nice — to be among the first to take it on the track."
Rossi completed around 50 laps on the torque-laden race bike, which is basically the GP11 with a bigger engine at this stage, with chassis changed to developed throughout this year.
A day later and Nicky Hayden was let loose on the big Ducati thumper, but the weather wasn't promising. "When I woke up this morning, the sky was really gray and the track was completely wet. I was pretty disappointed," explains Hayden. "The situation got better and better though, and after lunch, I was able to put on my leathers. I couldn’t wait to ride, and it was worth the wait.
"It’s an honor to be able to participate in the first track test of the GP12 because it doesn’t happen very often that you get to ride a bike on the track for the first time: it’s a special feeling. Everything went well, and we didn’t have a single problem: the motor is really nice to use, and I had a lot of fun riding the bike.
"I hope I gave some useful feedback to Filippo and the boys.
"I know they’ll be working on this bike while we go back to focusing on the next race, because this season just started," said the American racer, who landed on the podium at the Spanish GP ahead of Rossi.
The 2012 season just got a little bit closer, and with the 125 class being replaced with the 250cc single cylinder Moto3 class, it will be a very interesting year for motorcycle racing.
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