Valentino Rossi participated in the final day of a three-day private Ducati MotoGP test at Mugello, with rampant rumors in Europe suggesting that the Italian was testing an aluminum-framed version of the 2012 1000cc GP12 prototype. The front-end feel problems that all the Ducati riders (mostly factory pilots Rossi and Nicky Hayden) have been complaining about with the carbon-framed Desmosedici since day one—with the exception of Casey Stoner, who was the only one to get along with the Ducati, but has since moved on to more-win-less-bin pastures—are all well-known by now, as is the Ducati Corse team’s frustration at not finding an answer. Despite somewhat nebulous and deft side-stepping denials by Ducati technical director Filippo Preziosi during a press conference at Misano that the team wasn’t going to try an aluminum chassis, the fact that security was heavy at the circuit and that only file photos of previous tests were provided along with the vague press release leads many to believe that Rossi was indeed testing an aluminum frame.
Rossi reportedly turned a total of 82 laps during the test, held in “sunny but not overly hot” conditions at the Tuscan circuit. He even crashed at the exit of the Scarperia-Palagio section of the circuit on his third lap of the test, but he and the bike apparently survived well enough to continue until 6:30 pm. Preziosi and team manager/test rider Vittoriano Guareschi, plus Ducati test rider Franco Battaini well also on hand at the test.
“It was an interesting day, although it was also quite long, because we rode until 6:30,” said Rossi in the press release. “Developing a bike requires a lot of focus and effort, but it’s also very exciting and fulfilling to be part of a group of people pushing as hard as it can in the same direction. Today we confirmed various aspects of the GP12’s electronics and chassis, collecting a lot of useful information for Filippo and the guys in the factory. I think that the work is well underway as we prepare for our next steps.”