Although the team has tested the new chassis briefly a few days ago, Ducati's managers have decided to wait for one more Grand Prix until trying on the new package.
Following the first couple of races in the 2011 campaign, both Hayden and Valentino Rossi have complained about the highly understeering nature of the GP11. And the 4-week break between the Spanish and the Portuguese GPs have provided the Italian team with the perfect opportunity to develop a revised chassis, although it won't see any track time this weekend.
“There is a new chassis here but I don't know when I'll try it. It's softer [to ride],” said Hayden in a preview for the Portuguese event this weekend. “I haven't seen it yet to be honest. I hope to get to try it on Monday. Hopefully it's softer turning in and still good on the brakes. I don't know the exact amount it is softer but it is a good step.”
Additionally, the “Kentucky Kid” confirmed that, should the weather help his team's programme this weekend, he will also test a few new parts for the GP11 at Estoril, in practice.
“We've got some electronics we might try through the weekend but that obviously depends on the weather. It's never easy to test stuff at the weekend if we have got to try something and even Monday doesn't look that great. It's not a lot of stuff for me to try, so we'll see, probably try something tomorrow.”
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