Rossi will test Ducati road bikes, claims Domenicali
Added on Thursday, January 13th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Rossi will test Ducati road bikes, claims Domenicali
Valentino Rossi will have a hand in Ducati’s road bike production, according to the company’s General Director, as the manufacturer looks to bring more of its track-developed technologies to the consumer market.
Claudio Domenicali, General Director of Ducati Motor Holding, claimed that Rossi’s reputation for providing detailed feedback on a motorcycle’s performance and characteristics make him the perfect test rider for the entire Ducati range, not just the Desmosedici prototype.
Speaking at the Ducati press launch, Domenicali added that Rossi’s arrival from Yamaha signified the launch of a new phase in the development of Ducati motorcycles.
“The 2011 season opens a sort of third phase for our MotoGP project,” he claimed. “The first was with Loris Capirossi, who in just six races took the Desmosedici to its first win. The second brought the world championship crown, thanks to Casey Stoner, in 2007. The big news for 2011, which opens a third phase, is the arrival of Valentino Rossi on the team.
“It’s an important phase for our company, which relies a lot on research and development, and which uses the MotoGP series not only as a venue for winning, but also as a laboratory for advanced research.
“Valentino is universally recognized as a master at taking a bike to its limits, but also at providing feedback that’s extremely useful for development. We think this skill will give us a big push for improving our engineering, and to always give our fans the best bikes possible.
“Many of the models we’ve produced in recent years, starting with the 1198-our flagship sport bike-but also bikes intended for less extreme application, including the Multistrada 1200, Streetfighter, Diavel, and Monster, boast technical characteristics that come directly from our experience in MotoGP, like traction control and aspects of electronic engine management. This will happen even more with the new generation of sport bikes that we’re working on now and we’re certain that the possibility of also having Valentino test our new models and give us his impressions will make this flow of technology even more effective.”
