Rossi Tests Ducati GP12 on New Asphalt at Mugello

While Honda is currently leading the MotoGP Manufacturers Championship standings, followed by Yamaha in second place, Ducati is focused to find the best set-up in order to become a title contender in the 2012 MotoGP season. Valentino Rossi has thus enjoyed his second test with the Desmosedici GP12, following the one at the Jerez track in Spain, in early April.

Only this time, The Doctor also got to test the new asphalt at the Mugello circuit in Tuscany, turning sixty laps aboard the GP12. He took advantage of the occasion and checked the first few updates to the bike, carried out according to his instructions and teammate Nicky Hayden.

"I’m pleased, because it was a positive test,” said Valentino after he concluded testing. “I liked the new asphalt a lot. The surface is smooth, those holes that I knew so well are now gone, and the grip is fantastic. I must say they’ve done a great job, because if it’s possible, riding here at Mugello is now even better than before. We tested everything that Filippo had planned to try, and we’re satisfied because, although we’re still at a pretty early stage, we’re going in the right direction.”

“I must say it’s a strange sensation, but also a really nice one, to be here at Mugello with Valentino, on a track where we’ve been rivals so many times in the past,” said Filippo Preziosi. “We worked on the electronics and various other updates to next season’s bike, some of which were made following the requests that Vale and Nicky had given us during their first outing with the bike about a month ago at Jerez. It was a useful and positive test that will enable us to continue with the development of the GP12, which has some new details coming soon.”