Photo: Ducati
After bringing Gigi Dall’Igna over form Aprilia and appointing him as the absolute boss of Ducati Corse, answering only to CEO Claudio Domenicali, Ducati has spent around 6 months trying to figure out which way should efforts be directed to in order to bring once more the glory of the past for the reds. So far Dall’Igna’s promises turned out to be true, as the months he said he would need to understand how things work at Ducati and what’s wrong with the recent Desmosedici MotoGP prototypes have finally started to pay off.
Dall’Igna used to say that if possible, he will try a makeover of the GP14 machine, but if needed, a completely new bike will have to be engineered… and that he would engineer it. Now, the work on the all-new MotoGP bike has already started, with all the guys in Borgo Panigale developing a new frame, a completely new engine and a new fairing.
The fairing, a narrower and more aerodynamic design, was said to arrive at the Czech round in Brno, but it looks like Ducati is moving ahead of its schedule, and is bringing it this very weekend at Indianapolis. The new engine for the 2015 Desmosedici is still a long way from its maiden voyage, which Dall’Igna hopes will be the post-race test in Valencia.
Still, the Sunday race in Indy will see Ducati fielding a revised engine derived from the one used in the first half of the season. The V4 comes with a reduced weight thanks to thinner structures used in areas which are less stressed. Ducati apparently managed to retain durability and performance for their engine, despite lowering its profile. The power unit is now tailored to fit inside the new fairing and the upcoming frame upon which the GP15 machine will be built. At the same time, it looks like friction in certain points has also been reduced, allowing better fuel economy, too.
Remains to be seen whether it will last through the end of the Indianapolis race, especially as the resurfaced track of the Brickyard will surely put a lot of pressure on both bikes and riders.
The fairing, a narrower and more aerodynamic design, was said to arrive at the Czech round in Brno, but it looks like Ducati is moving ahead of its schedule, and is bringing it this very weekend at Indianapolis. The new engine for the 2015 Desmosedici is still a long way from its maiden voyage, which Dall’Igna hopes will be the post-race test in Valencia.
Still, the Sunday race in Indy will see Ducati fielding a revised engine derived from the one used in the first half of the season. The V4 comes with a reduced weight thanks to thinner structures used in areas which are less stressed. Ducati apparently managed to retain durability and performance for their engine, despite lowering its profile. The power unit is now tailored to fit inside the new fairing and the upcoming frame upon which the GP15 machine will be built. At the same time, it looks like friction in certain points has also been reduced, allowing better fuel economy, too.
Remains to be seen whether it will last through the end of the Indianapolis race, especially as the resurfaced track of the Brickyard will surely put a lot of pressure on both bikes and riders.
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