Last March it was announced that Ducati was getting rid of two of their recent family heirlooms, Casey Stoner’s GP1o and one of Valentino Rossi’s GP11s and that they would be auctioned at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco by RM Auctions, well the two bikes went under the hammer last Friday and once again Stoner’s machine beat Rossi’s machine, as the GP10 fetched more than the GP11.

The auction of the two prototypes had a lot of fine print in the contract, with a post sale confidentiality agreement and the Bologna manufacturer’s asking price was around €300,000-€350,000 each, but who bought the bikes got a pretty good deal as the GP10 was sold for around €172,430 while the GP11 went for € 168,420, not bad for two prototypes that usually cost millions in R&D to build.

Source | ducati.net

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Ducati is going all out in trying to give Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden a much easier Ducati GP11 to ride and their test team is currently at the Mugello circuit, that has been recently repaved for a three day testing session trying out new parts ahead of this weekend’s Estoril GP and for the post race test day.

Team manager and factotum Vitto Guareschi and test rider Franco Battaini are working on the new electronics that the riders will be using during the race weekend, but they are also testing a new and less stiffer and more flexible chassis and swingarm that will probably be evaluated by Rossi and Hayden on Monday, so as not to risk valuable practice and qualifying sessions on development.

Ducati is also continuing its work on the GP12 during this stint at the Mugello.

Source | motoblog.it

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Ducati has taken their two test teams to Jerez de la Frontera, which also includes team manager Vittoriano Guareschi who took off his official cap to don his rider’s helmet again, to help Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden in their 2011 season

We’ve seen some the changes that Filippo Preziosi has come up in last month’s video at Ducati headquarters and confirmed during his interview at the Vrooom event. During this three day test, Ducati will test different size Ohlins front end forks, a new and more aerodynamical chassis, swingarms with different ridigity characteristics and a better electronics package.

Here’s what Vitto Guareschi said after completing 50 laps at Jerez, “It was a very productive day, even though the track’s grip was really bad, in part because of the high humidity and in part because the F3 test that took place until yesterday left the asphalt quite dirty. As planned, ‘Batta’ (Franco Battaini, 60 laps) and I divided the responsibilities. I worked on the chassis with the goal of improving turn-in, while Franco concentrated on the electronics, including the new anti-wheelie and anti-spin systems that we’re testing and adjusting. I think I found a couple of interesting things with set-up that help with the front-end feel. We worked on ride height, seat position, and on many aspects of bike set-up that will help with all of the data-acquisition work that are necessary to be ready for Malaysia, when Vale and Nicky will ask us to change the bike in various ways. It’s a refinement process that will proceed for the two days in order to speed up the factory riders’ work in Malaysia.”

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The Italians were beside themselves over the MotoGP Valencia tests this week as Valentino Rossi took to the track for the first time on the Ducati GP11. But after a relatively positive first day, the second day of testing turned into a mini-nightmare for the Desmosedici and its new rider. After seemingly battling front-end problems, Rossi came in 15th in test times, well behind riders with much less illustrious histories.

Many sideliners have weighed into the debate expressing not just disappointment, but serious concerns for 2011 and Rossi’s first year on the Ducati. Rossi himself can’t make any official comment which is okay with us as we’d be more interested to hear the unofficial stuff, anyway. We can imagine that Valentino would have preferred to start with a “bella figura” (good impression) but is the former world champion going to be as concerned as his fans and Ducati management? Rossi is considered one of the best bike developers on the paddock, with plenty of experience and even a few difficult moments years ago when he first starting working on the Yamaha M1.

It’s perhaps not unreasonable to expect a decent performance from Rossi next year given his calibre, but we’re pretty convinced that Ducati didn’t take him on to win a championship in his first year. It’s hard to know what the long-term vision would have been for Ducati, though. Rossi has stated he was ready to move on from Yamaha, to new challenges next year and we’re inclined to believe him (along with some contributing factors from Yamaha and an upstart teammate who just took out this year’s championship).

Continue reading: After the hype: the Ducati GP11 to become Rossi's new M1?

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