Claudio Domenicali at Wrooom 2011

The Ducati Corse CEO’s full press conference from the event is now available to watch in the attached motogp.com video.

Now available to view in the attached video is Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali’s full press conference from the Wrooom 2011 event, where the Italian discussed the arrival of Valentino Rossi into the factory team, the Desmosedici GP11 and the new season.

Pedrosa: Sepang will be like a personal test

Dani Pedrosa has now resumed training after two months of inactivity. It was a forced rest, declared by doctors after visiting the operating room as a result of the double fracture of the left collarbone he suffered in Japan.

How was the return to work and how have you approached the physical preparation in these circumstances?

Until New Years I was resting but since the medical tests, when they gave me the green light, I've been training in Switzerland. I lost the entire month of December while many others were probably already in training. Obviously I can not force myself to the maximum everyday because the body doesn’t allow it, but I am working with my coaches doing the best I can.

What level of recovery are you at now?

Without doubt I am much better, the tests have shown this. They have given me the green light to train the left arm equal to the right although, logically, starting more smoothly. I have improved a lot in these days. It’s a slow process but I’m going in the right direction.

Are you facing this first test in Sepang with excitement? Do you have withdrawal symptoms from the bike?

Yes, there are always withdrawal symptoms from the bike! You really look forward to the first test. I am encouraged, because November and December were tough, there were a lot of problems and I was not well, but as you start to improve and see that the feeling is better, you are automatically encouraged. I know that I will not be at 100% in the first test but if I can control the bike well I will be happy. For me this is like a personal test to see how I am.

In November when you tested the RC212V at the Valencia Test, you said you would like to improve various aspects of the engine, chassis, aggressiveness of the bike… What do you expect to find in Malaysia in two weeks?

Well, basically what I asked for. Speaking with the team, we saw that there were some areas for improvement, we tried some modifications that were positive, I’m sure that they have been working on that and I hope that in Malaysia we will have a couple of options to see if they improve braking and acceleration, traction on corner exit. We will focus on that.

Will Casey Stoner’s arrival to the team change the approach of the work on the evolution of the bike? Will there be a leader in setting the direction to take?

This question is a little more for HRC but, ok, in principle during the pre-season things are tested and when the first race comes I suppose that the things that have been tested and chosen will be given to the riders, all of them.

How do you see it working inside in the Honda box this year?

Well, the same as last year but with one more rider.

What do you think is needed for 2011 to be the year for Dani Pedrosa?

One of the most important things is to try to not get injured. If I can stay on the bike and be on all the starting grids, it will certainly give me more points than if I am not.

Is Jorge Lorenzo the man to beat in 2011 or is the worst enemy in your own box?

For me all the rivals are important, so I value them equally because any of them can surprise you. We know that there are four or five riders that can be there in every race but the Championship is long and you always have to be on top. I have never underestimated anyone, intending that no one can surprise me, but we already know that the good riders will be there fighting at the front every race and you have to keep them close because they are strong riders. But, well, so am I, so we’ll be there fighting!.

Including a Valentino Rossi on the Ducati GP11…

Yes, I think that Rossi will adapt quickly to the bike. He will have to work obviously, but we have already seen in the past that he is very capable. He will definitely be there.

Of all the developments of 2011, with Stoner in your garage, Rossi at Ducati and new faces like Abraham and Crutchlow on the grid, what are you most curious about?

More than the riders -we already know that they are fast and how they will go- I think that one of the most important things of 2011 will be the practice sessions. The new timing of the sessions that we already tested at the end of the year. I think that these will play an important role on Sunday.

Rossi’s press conference from Ducati’s Wrooom 2011 presentation in full

Valentino Rossi gave his first press conference as a Ducati rider during Wrooom 2011, held last week at Madonna di Campiglio. Here you can watch the full video of the Italian star’s reflections.

Wearing Ducati colours for the first time and amid the expectations of the international press and the fans, Valentino Rossi gave a press conference at Wrooom 2011 in which he offered his opinions and expectations for 2011, the campaign which sees his debut at the controls of the Ducati Desmosedici GP11. In the attached video you can see the complete interview with the Italian.

Ducati Conclude Jerez Programme

The Ducati Team rounded off a three-day Test at the Jerez circuit in Spain on Wednesday, completing a productive programme of set-up work on the Desmosedici GP11.

Vittoriano Guareschi and Franco Battaini, who were tasked with carrying out the specified work on various areas of the set-up as outlined by Filippo Preziosi, began riding at 11.30am local time on Wednesday morning. Guareschi concluded his day at 4pm having ridden 61 laps, whilst Battaini continued until 6pm after putting in 90 turns of the track.

The Desmosedici will next be on track at the official MotoGP Test at Sepang in Malaysia, which takes place from February 1st-3rd and in which factory riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will have the opportunity to evaluate the bike's progress.

“We were lucky because the weather conditions enabled us to test for all three days,” said Preziosi. “We identified two set-up configurations that Vittoriano determined to be suitable in terms of front-end feel and turn-in. With Franco, we found some interesting solutions for both anti-wheelie control and traction control.”

“We’re all satisfied with the work carried out, even though we’re aware that we’re dealing with technical solutions that were tried on a different track and in different conditions compared to those of Sepang. Only when Valentino and Nicky have had their turn to try and evaluate those solutions will we be able to have a more certain confirmation and to understand if we’ve taken a step forward – and if so, how big a step.” Source: http://motogp.com/

Wrooom finishes with a spectacular exhibition

Ducati Team riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden faced Scuderia Ferrari F1 stars Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in an ice-race on the closing day of the Wrooom Press Meeting.

Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden joined Ferrari’s Formula 1 drivers for a spectacular exhibition on Madonna di Campiglio’s frozen lake in front of an enthusiastic crowd of over 5,000 people.

“This week has been a spectacular event, and the races at the end were a lot of fun,” said Valentino. “In the end, I decided to take part because the atmosphere here at Wrooom was so fantastic, and because the fans deserved it. I got a few jolts from the holes, but nothing too bad. It was worth it.”

"This was my third Wrooom, and I think it was the best one yet," echoed Nicky Hayden. "It seems like they just make it better every year. They really treat us good, and we make a lot of friends, and it’s great to see them each year. This is a great way to kick things off, but there’s been enough talking about everything now. It’s time to get out there and do the real thing. I look forward to it."

Source: http://www.motogp.com/

Preziosi details the new Desmosedici

Following the presentation of the Ducati Desmosedici GP11 on Wednesday the creative mind behind the machine, Filippo Preziosi, gave a detailed technical insight into the major characteristics of the prototype that Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will ride in 2011.

Having worked tirelessly since the Valencia Test last November, Preziosi explained that completely new aerodynamics were just one of many points that he hoped would make the Desmosedici a more improved package this year.

“The main changes are in the engine, they are internal and external and are designed to achieve a more favourable, flatter torque,” said Preziosi. “The aim of the changed aerodynamics is to reduce friction, therefore improving the maximum speed while reducing the lifting of the front wheel.”

He continued: “With the chassis we have a different rigidity and torsion, and a swingarm with a different stiffness too. We are making a new fork for Sepang, adapted to the suspension for 2011.”

“In terms of electronics we are mainly working on anti-wheelie and traction control. We will be at Jerez from January 17th-19th with Franco Battaini and Vittoriano Guareschi, who will be on track.”

Discussing working with Rossi on the development of the new bike, Preziosi said: “He is telling the technicians a lot of very precise information, the most surprising thing is how he is able to put everyone in a very calm mood and ready to work and analyse all the data. This is something very difficult to do when you are under pressure. We are also very happy because Jerry (Burgess) and the other guys have linked very well with our guys. They have great experience and we are trying to add our experience together to make a better bike.”

“I want to thank Yamaha again because they allowed Valentino to test, which was really important for us because we had a lot of priorities to work on. After that we could put them in the right order, so now we are working on the parts that we decided were priorities.”

Touching on the subject of Rossi’s shoulder injury, which has been a hot topic of conversation at the Wrooom 2011 event this week, Preziosi commented: “For sure the injury is a big problem because of the importance of the winter tests. I don’t think we’ll be able to do the winter tests in the best way because of this, but we are working hard.”

“The main goal for me this year is to develop the bike,” said Preziosi in conclusion. “We want to use this year to learn as much as possible to improve the bike.”

Source: http://motogp.com/

MotoGP 2011 Live Timing App

The MotoGP 2011 Official Live Timing App is now on sale, making it the perfect Christmas gift for the dedicated fan!

The MotoGP 2011 Official Live Timing App is already available to buy from the iTunes App Store and the Android Marketplace, just in time to make an excellent Christmas gift for the devoted MotoGP fan.

Valentino Rossi '2010 season review'

Starting the season with a victory in Qatar it appeared to be ‘business as usual’ for Valentino Rossi, but 2010 was to be a year like no other for the Fiat Yamaha man. Podiums at Jerez and Le Mans followed – all the while struggling with a shoulder problem after a motocross accident which followed the Qatar race – before the 31 year-old’s season was turned on its head by the crash in practice at Mugello, which put him out of action for four races with a broken leg.