Valentino Rossi’s chief engineer, Jeremy Burgess has cautioned the naysayers who were disappointed in the results of the Italian’s first outing on the Ducati MotoGP racer at the recent Valencia post season test. Rossi ended the test 15th fastest and second slowest Ducati ahead of only rookie Karel Abraham.
Vale was 1.7 seconds off the pace of the front runners, former Ducati pilot Casey Stoner getting his first taste of a factory Honda and 2010 World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo on the Yamaha M1. Both Nicky Hayden and new to Pramac Ducati, Randy De Puniet were over a second faster than the GOAT. What gives?
Defending his charge, Burgess urged for calm when speaking with Motosprint.
“There’s no reason to panic, despite Valentino’s unusual test results. Everything was new for Valentino as it was for myself and my team.”
Reports suggest that Rossi liked the power delivery and the rear grip from the Ducati (something he has struggled with on the Yamaha) but found the front end of the Ducati as disagreeable as Stoner did.
“Everyone likes to be at the top of the timesheets, after every test session, but I knew Valentino would get on the track to do a different job: he wanted to ride to understand the bike, not to do record laps. “He kept himself within wide margins, he certainly didn’t ride as if it was a race weekend.” reported Burgess
Source: http://www.ducatinewstoday.com