With the unveiling of the latest chapter to Ducati’s Desmosedici the engineering enigma Filippo Preziosi has detailed the changes to the new MotoGP machine.
The bike that was revealed forms 'step 0' of the Desmosedici GP11 project prompting the initial base level from which the manufacturer plan to evolve from. On the topic of the GP11 Preziosi, the General Director of Ducati Corse, said: "The principal characteristics are the evolution of the motor and of the throttle body thought to obtain, fundamentally, a flatter and more useable power curve.
Where as the bike shown yesterday appears the same as previous versions Ducati's MotoGP, has been reworked in a major but subtle way, "As for the chassis, the aerodynamics are completely new, with the goal of improving top speed, reducing consumption, and also reducing front lift as much as possible." explained the Ducati engineer, "The aim of the changed aerodynamics is to reduce friction, therefore improving the maximum speed while reducing the lifting of the front wheel."
A carbon frame enhanced the GP9 version of the Desmosedici with the progression to a carbon swingarm later on in 2009. The frame on the new machine has already undertaken various tests for rigidity and flex, for torsion and under braking, and swingarm with different ridigity characteristics.
One area of evolution that has been challenging all the manufacturers in the paddock has been the importance of electronic systems. For the GP11, Preziosi said: "We’re working on wheelie control and traction control. These are all solutions that we’ll try out next week at Jerez with three days of testing and two development teams—one for Franco Battaini and one for Vittoriano Guareschi—and that Valentino and Nicky will then try in Malaysia."
On teaming up with Valentino Rossi, Preziosi commented: “The thing that struck me the most about Vale is his great ability to create a positive climate around himself. On the other hand, one thing that I’d heard about him but that I found to be even more true than I expected was his ability to analyze details in the bike’s behavior and to describe them in an incredibly precise way.
"It’s very valuable because the rider is gives us considerable information that we wouldn’t otherwise have. The quality of this information will make a big difference.” continued Preziosi.
The team understand that Rossi's fitness level is still not at 100% and with the first test taking place at the psychically challenging Sepang ciruit, Preziosi and the rest of the crew see the seven-time champion's input as more 'surgical' with his feedback.
