Rossi toying with Lorenzo

I'm not so sure but would like to see it happen. Stoner may have other thoughts about it though. Lorenzo will struggle mightily to repeat, IMO, despite being a fantastic rider.

It is good to see pictures of Rossi this morning.

 

Having ridden for a semi-factory team, I can tell you that the state of the bike is very dependant on how much a$$ you kiss. Sad but true.

Art

 

Waited for this for a loooong time.
http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2010/Valentino+Rossi+makes+his+first+outing+with+Ducati

 

Very, very cool!

 

2011 began yesterday...
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Great pix

 

Has anyone heard what Rossi had to say about the Duc?

 

They've just been focusing on engine selection between the screamer and big bang motors so I don't think he's said much yet.

Valentino Rossi starts new Ducati era
After seven years at Yamaha, Valentino Rossi began a new era with Ducati at Valencia on Tuesday.

Delayed by morning rain, Rossi left the pits on a black Desmosedici bearing his famous #46 at 12:20 local time.

It marked the start of a new adventure in which the Italian will try to become the first rider in history to lift the premier-class crown for three different manufacturers.

Rossi rode for a total of 56 laps, with a best lap time of 1min 33.882sec.

That put him tenth out of the 17 riders and compares with his best Yamaha lap from Sunday's race, which he finished third, of 1min 32.970sec. The overall best lap time on Tuesday was 1min 32.012sec, by Rossi's former team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

As rumoured, seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi tried both a 'big bang' and 'screamer' engine.

Rossi used a 'big bang' Desmosedici GP11 for virtually the entire day, as he worked on geometry and other settings, then made one final run on the 'screamer' version.

Rossi raced with a 'big bang' engine throughout his Yamaha career, and Ducati also used the technology in 2010, but are prepared to switch back to the even-firing screamer if the Italian prefers it.

The Doctor is unable to speak publically about the test due to conditions placed on his early contract release by Yamaha, but Ducati Corse general director Filippo Preziosi was able to comment on a day that will go down in the factory's history.

“It has been an exciting day for sure. The main thing that hit me today was Vale's positive feedback and his capacity for analysis," said Preziosi. "Today he tested the GP11 with the 'big bang' engine on a standard setting, which he modified step by step to adapt it to his riding style.

"His first comment when he lifted his visor up was a positive one about the power delivery and then he gave some impressive technical details. We certainly have a lot to do to adapt the bike to his riding style but it is really nice and very interesting to work in this way.

"We worked on the geometry and setting today to see how the bike responded and to get a bit of experience working with both Vale and Jeremy [Burgess].

"At the end of the session he went out on the screamer version but we will make more of an analysis between the two engines tomorrow because they deliver the power in very different ways - the big bang has a more regular power curve whereas the screamer is more aggressive but also more powerful.

"Nicky [Hayden] tried both versions today and this evening we will have a look at all the data.”

Hayden, who was ninth fastest, indicated that it won't be an easy choice.

"I can say that the 2011 version of the big bang engine is definitely an improvement," he declared. "We switched to the screamer at about three o'clock and in some areas it's also really strong, I like it.

"Before making a choice to move forward with we need to test some more, get all the data together and make a calm, considered decision.”

Testing concludes on Wednesday, after which 31-year-old Rossi - who broke his leg at Mugello this year - will head for surgery on the shoulder injury he has been suffering with since April.

Prior to joining Yamaha, Rossi raced for Honda for his first four seasons in MotoGP, winning the title from 2001-2003. Rossi rode for Aprilia in 125 and 250cc.

Source:http://crash.net/motogp/news/164928/2/valentino_rossi_starts_new_ducati_era.html

 

I'm not sure if he can say anything publicly due to contractual obligations with Yamaha. Yamaha is technically letting his test as a courtesy, but I doubt they would appreciate him answering the inevitable comparison questions of M1 vs GP11 while they are still sending him checks.

 

Stoner stars as Valencia test concludes, Rossi 15th
Casey Stoner completed a dream debut for Honda by snatching the top spot in the closing stages of the Valencia MotoGP test, the last official track action of 2010.

Second on his RC212V debut on Tuesday, the Australian - a Ducati rider for the past four years - ran third behind Factory Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben spies for much of day two, then vaulted ahead in the final hour with a 1min 32.066sec.

Stoner, whose 23 Ducati race wins is more than any other rider has achieved in the 800cc era, improved by 0.709sec on Wednesday and could scarcely have hoped for a better debut - especially having outpaced new team-mates and established Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa (injured) and Andrea Dovizioso almost from his first lap on the bike.

"There's not much I'm not happy with!” Stoner told MotoGP.com at the conclusion of the Test. “Of course there is still a long way to go for us with the bike but we've come away with a reasonable base setting.

"We still have to get the general feeling of the bike a bit better in the middle of the corner turning, but that's just a case of getting more time on the bike and a better balance for me as I have a different style to most riders.

"At this moment, with the set-up we currently have, we have been very happy with the feedback the bike's been giving us and the way everyone's been working.”

New world champion Lorenzo, fastest by 0.763sec over Stoner on day one, finished day two just 0.113sec behind in second position. However the Spaniard, running the #1 plate for the first time, was fractionally quickest on combined times thanks to his 1min 32.012sec day one effort.

Spies, promoted to the factory squad in place of departing seven time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi, will be pleased to have closed significantly on Lorenzo during day two. 0.866sec behind Lorenzo at the end of day one, the American was only 0.143sec adrift after day two.

Fellow rookie Marco Simoncelli was just 0.384sec from Stoner in fourth place, despite some falls, making the San Carlo Honda Gresini rider the second fastest RCV present. Pedrosa, nursing a healing collarbone and trying new parts for 2011, was a few tenths slower in fifth.

The Doctor lapped just 0.121sec faster than on Tuesday and will now take a few days off being undergoing surgery for his injured shoulder.

Of the two 2011 rookies, Cal Crutchlow and Karel Abraham, it was ex-World Superbike rider Crutchlow who finished higher on both days.

The Englishman, taking part in his second MotoGP test but first with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, was 14th and 13th, having improved by 0.831sec on the second day.

Crutchlow, the 2009 WSS champion, left Valencia 1.417sec behind Stoner and only 0.158sec behind the best time by veteran team-mate Colin Edwards.

Valencia Moto2 winner Abraham, who has the added disadvantage of riding for a team new to MotoGP, had been 17th and last on day one, but moved ahead of Moto2 champion Toni Elias by finding 1.283sec on Wednesday.

Elias, returning to MotoGP with Honda LCR, trimmed a few tenths off his Tuesday time, but was over one-second behind Abraham and 2.7sec from Stoner.

Barring any special rookie tests for Crutchlow and Abraham, the next MotoGP track action will be at Sepang in February.