The Ducati Team, with its riders Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, concluded a two-day test at the Montmelò Circuit located on the outskirts of Barcelona, in preparation for the Catalunya Grand Prix, the seventh round of the MotoGP World Championship which will take place on this circuit in two weeks.
Also on track since Monday was the Ducati Test Team with Casey Stoner et Michele Pirro. The Australian champion only tested on Monday and then handed over to Pirro who completed the rest of the development work on the 2017 Ducati Desmosedici over the other two days.
Ducati riders mainly focused on finding an optimal setup for the Catalan race.
The Montmelò circuit which will be used in June has been slightly modified at turns 14 and 15, and is now quite similar to that used for Formula 1 (see here). Astroturf has also been removed (see here).
Jorge Lorenzo, best lap in 1'43.998 (146 laps): “it was a very interesting test. During the two days I did around 150 laps, which is a lot of kilometers, and we found some positive solutions. I was also the fastest Ducati rider on both days. Overall we are competitive in every sector, but we always lose a few tenths in the final part, so we will have to improve here in preparation for the race. As for the front tire, Michelin has done a good job, bringing two or three tires that solve the graining problem on the right side, but we still need to find a solution for the rear. »
Andrea Dovizioso, meilleur tour en 1’45.067 (123 tours) : « Nous avons fait beaucoup de tours durant ces deux jours de test, avec des températures qui devraient être semblables à ce que nous trouverons lors de la course dans environ deux semaines, et c’était important parce qu’au cours des dernières années, nous avons toujours peiné sur ce circuit. Mes tours les plus rapides n’étaient pas extrêmement rapides mais nous ne sommes pas mal en ce qui concerne notre rythme de course. Il était également important de venir pour avoir une idée de l’usure du pneu avant ; Michelin a apporté plusieurs pneus à essayer et nous avons trouvé quelques bonnes solutions. Le tracé, après la modification à la chicane, n’est pas aussi agréable qu’auparavant, mais c’est plus sûr maintenant.”
Results:
1. Marquez (Honda) 1'43.803
2. Lorenzo (Ducati) 1'43.988
3. Bautista (Ducati) 1'44.258
4. Crutchlow (Honda) 1'44.369
5. Pedrosa (Honda) 1'44.373
6. Barbera (Ducati) 1'44.469
7. Pirro (Ducati) 1'44.583
8. Espargaro Aleix (Aprilia) 1’44″852
9. Dovizioso (Ducati) 1.45″196
10. Baz (Ducati) 1’45″281
11. Rabat (Honda) 1’45″946
12. Lowes Sam (Aprilia) 1’46″298
13. Abraham (Ducati) 1'47.121
Montmeló TEST 24 de mayo of 2017
Montmeló TEST 24 de mayo of 2017
