Stoner Questions Biaggi And Bayliss Testing
Added on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Stoner has doubts over Ducati testing initiative
Ducati have enlisted the help of World Superbike Championship riders Tory Bayliss and Max Biaggi as they look to perfect their new GP8 Desmosedici, although doubts have been raised by MotoGP champion Casey Stoner.
Ducati have had a disappointing start to the new MotoGP season, with Stoner, who came first in the season opener at Losail, finishing in 11th and 6th in Jerez and Estoril respectively whilst Marco Melandri and Alice duo Tony Elias and Sylvain Guintoli have all failed to impress.
The finger has been pointed on the abnormal characteristics of the Ducati bike, which sacrifices a balanced performance in favour of out-and-out power and it now seems that the Ducati team have called upon their colleagues from the WSB series.
Bayliss, current runaway leader in the WSB championship, is likely to test the 2008 MotoGP machine next month in Mugello along with Italian Max Biaggi.
Biaggi told journalists yesterday: “What I can say is that they have asked me to be available to do this test and I have told them that I will be.”
“My priority is the championship I am competing in, but they have asked if I’d be able to give my opinion on the GP8 in order the find a way of improving it. I have responded positively but that is all so far, talking about it too much is not worth it at the moment.”
But current MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has his doubts over the move, questioning the commitment of the WSB duo.
Stoner told MCN: “It will be interesting but we’ve still got to get this bike set up for us. In my opinion they (Bayliss and Biaggi) are not going to be able to jump on it and go fast. Troy is a very fast rider but it’s not a race meeting and they won’t push anywhere to the pace that we are riding at. We are not far off the pace now and it will be hard for them to get any real information. We are ourselves are struggling enough and we have got experience of this package. And I’m sure they want to concentrate on their own problems in World Superbikes.”
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