Ducati Team happy to return to Aragón

For Nicky Hayden, it was one of his best results aboard the Desmosedici, as he used a beautiful last-lap pass on Jorge Lorenzo to achieve his third-place finish. The American hopes to continue improving his feeling with the GP11.1 so that he can be consistently fast from the free practice sessions on.

Valentino Rossi finished sixth at Aragón last year, but he approaches the Aragón weekend with determination and focus for the work that he’s carrying out with the Ducati technicians and his team.

Nicky Hayden: 

“It’s nice to go back to Aragón, which I like. We haven’t been there a lot, so it’s still new and fun. Last year, it was clearly our best weekend of the season, and in theory, it should suit me and our bike a little bit this time as well. The track was brand-new then, and it was grippy and completely smooth, so we’ll see how well it’s held up. It has a lot of ups and downs, and quite a few corners with open exits, which should be good for us. I’m 100% okay from my crash at Misano, so no excuses there. Hopefully we can catch a little break and have a good weekend at Aragón.”

Valentino Rossi: 

“Last year at Aragón was the best race of the year for Ducati, so we approach this round with our expectations a little higher than usual. In addition, after the difficult practice sessions at Misano, we found a good setup in the end and I had a better feeling with the bike and managed to ride it better in the race, especially in the early laps. Now we’ll try to combine the two things—the track that seems to work well with the Desmosedici and the good setup work—in order to find the same feeling on Sunday.”

Vittoriano Guareschi, Team Manager: 

“We have some great memories of Aragón from last year, so we’re happy to return. Every season has its own story though, and we’re obviously currently working not only for this weekend but also beyond. Our riders and team are completely focused on the goal, and they’re giving us a collaborative working group that I think is extremely important. At Aragón, we expect to continue gathering data and information on the Desmosedici and to speed up the setup work during the practice sessions.”

Ducati Team press release

Dovizioso: Ducati? A nice idea but...

Ducati's biggest problem at the moment is a lack of "sex appeal" since the arrival of Valentino Rossi. While some might have had their doubts about Marco Melandri and virtually ever other rider who has struggled on the Desmosedici, nobody can doubt the ability of Valentino Rossi. His reputation as a bike developer, along with that of Jeremy Burgess, has been tarnished somewhat, but that's another story. 

Valentino has actually come to realize that a good rider, or rather a great rider, is still at the mercy of the engineers and the factory. 

That said, it seemed clear at Misano that Ducati and their principle sponsor have decided the best way to close the gap is with a new project; the one that Rossi tested today at Mugello.  But is it enough to convince the other riders?

According to Andrea Dovizioso, who has received an offer from Ducati to race for a team of his chosing, either Pramac or Martinez, with an option for 2013, evidently not.

"The situation with Ducati?  We are talking with them as well, because I'm at a fortunate moment in my career where I have the possibility to speak with Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Ducati.  In many ways - Dovi told GPone.com, while in Rome to inaugurate a new Megabike Honda dealership - I see Ducati as a very interesting team, because they have the same mentality that I do. In my many years with Honda, I've always had to adapt to them, and that's already a big difference.  The Ducati-Marlboro family is very interesting and intriguing, even if they are going through some difficultly right now; after signing Valentino, the strongest rider out there, the one who has won more than anybody, they aren't getting the results. For sure the fact that he hasn't done as well as Casey cuts back slightly on my enthusiasm for taking that same route.  The idea is honestly attractive and fascinating to me, but I think it's a risk that doesn't make much sense considering that I believe the option will be open to me in another year, or further in the future.  Right now I think I can make my mark in a more decisive way next year on another bike, but seeing as how all the most important contracts will expire at the end of next season, we'll talk about it again based on future results."

source: GP One

New Ducati chassis spied in Mugello

Ducati have been spotted testing the new British-built aluminium frame that they hope will transform Valentino Rossi's woeful MotoGP performance this season.

The frame, built by Buckingham-based FTR, is being tested in Mugello this week.

Bologna factory sources have confirmed to MCN in Misano last weekend that FTR had been collaborating with Ducati for several weeks on the new projects, with Rossi and teammate Nicky Hayden urging engineers to undergo a radical re-design of its Desmosedici project.

Rossi and Hayden have complained all season about a chronic understeer issue and lack of front-end feel with the current carbon-fibre concept. The pair have scored only one podium each in 2011 and Rossi has given up trying to maintain his record of winning at least one GP a year since his world championship debut in 1996.

FTR management refused to comment on a link with Ducati. Drawings have been spotted clearly showing the rear of a twin beam aluminium structure. The bike is believed to have already been built as a 1000, with rules preventing further testing on the current 800cc bikes.

Rossi confirmed he was testing the GP12 1000cc bike in Mugello this week, but he refused to divulge specific details. The 32-year-old, who finished seventh at Misano, said: "We have some new things to try to improve the front grip and the turning, but this is work for 2012."

source : MCN

Valentino Rossi unlikely to accept Carlos Checa’s WSB challenge

Valentino Rossi has virtually ruled out making a shock World Superbike wild card appearance for Ducati later this year.

The nine-times world champion was challenged to a duel by WSB championship leader Carlos Checa at the Imola round on September 25, which Rossi would be free to compete in as the race falls between the Motorland Aragon and Twin Ring Motegi MotoGP races.

But Rossi, who is struggling to make Ducati’s factory MotoGP bike competitive in 2011, said it was unlikely he would take Spaniard Checa up on his invitation.

Although he reiterated his desire to one day compete in a World Superbike race, Rossi said it would have to be outside of the MotoGP schedule.

He did try and secure a wild card in the Qatar round in 2009 for Yamaha to race against Troy Bayliss, but the Japanese factory declined his request to ride a factory R1.

Rossi said: "It is a good idea and I like it but it is always difficult for the calendar. In the past I was always very close to make a WSB race, especially in 2009. There was the race in Qatar but Yamaha said to me they have a new R1, so they don’t have a lot of money and they were not sure. I want to do it but I prefer out of the season. During the season it is too much and it looks like the result of Carlos and the Ducati that the bike isso fast. So why not in the future and because maybe we can have more fun than here."

Rossi also dismissed the idea of WSB and MotoGP running at different times of the year, as has been previously discussed.

Plans to run the WSB campaign over the winter months and MotoGP through the summer have been debated but Rossi said: "I heard about this idea from two years ago but maybe it has some good and bad points. Maybe it is more difficult for WSB to be in the winter to find the right places to make the races. I want to try and make one race but if WSB is in the winter then I don’t make two championships, it is too much."

source : MCN

Rossi rounds off his sixth day of testing on GP12 at Mugello

Valentino Rossi joined the Ducati Test Team at Mugello on Thursday for the third and final day of a special run which continued the development of the Borgo Panigale factory's 2012 prototype.

It was Rossi's sixth of the eight testing days permitted for each factory rider and there was no shortage of work for the nine-time World Champion to get through as he put in 82 laps, trying out an updated electronics package and chassis.

In sunny but not overly hot conditions Rossi rode until 6.30pm local time, unaffected by a minor fall at the Scarperia-Palagio section on his third lap of his first outing on the bike in the morning. Filippo Preziosi and Vittoriano Guareschi were both present in the garage to observe the Test, with official Ducati Test rider Franco Battaini – who had ridden for the previous two days – on track with Rossi.

“It was an interesting day, although it was quite a long one as we were riding until 6.30pm,” said Rossi. “Developing a bike requires a lot of focus and effort but is also very exciting, and it's very fulfilling to be part of a group of people pushing as hard as it can and all 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 back at the factory. I think the work is well underway as we prepare for our next steps.”

source: motogp official website

Jerry Burgess: ‘We need some more help’

Valentino Rossi’s legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess said it is time for Ducati to start making radical changes to its struggling Desmosedici MotoGP project.

Rossi finished seventh in his home race in Misano last weekend but still finished 23 seconds behind race winner Casey Stoner as the GP11.1 machine was comprehensively defeated by Honda and Yamaha again.

And Aussie Burgess says the only way to raise the performance potential of the Ducati is to try new parts, with Rossi’s crew out of setting options to try and improve his speed.

Rossi has complained of a lack of front-end feel and understeer ever since he jumped on the Ducati in Valencia 10 months ago.

The nine-times world champion will test an aluminium frame in Mugello this week and Burgess said Ducati engineers have no other option to adopt a different technical approach to see if can improve the Desmosedici.

He told MCN: "We need some more help and some different ideas. Everybody is aware that the feeling the riders don’t get has to be improved and we need to do that by whatever method they decide. We’ve done all we can here at the track and until we get something to work with, we’re really going to struggle to move forward at all. Valentino will go out and go to battle with whatever he has got and he can always say it has to be improved.

"We need to make some bigger steps and that is up to Ducati. We’ve moved the bike around in all shapes and positions, as has every other guy riding the Ducati. When we look at the settimgs used by Casey (Stoner) we can put those in too. But it gets to a point where you don’t do anymore."

source: MCN

Ducati not consistent enough, admits technical boss

Ducati technical guru Filippo Preziosi has admitted one of his main future targets is to deliver a bike capable of running a more consistent pace to Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden.

Rossi will evaluate an aluminium frame in Mugello later this week on the GP12 1000cc machine as the Bologna factory desperately tries to close the gap to rivals Honda and Yamaha.

But Preziosi said the focus for future development was to roll out a bike that could maintain consistently fast lap times.

Preziosi said: "In the Indy warm-up Nicky did a lap 0.3s from first and that was a good sign because it means the bike can do it. But the problem is that it was just one lap and the other lap was 1.2s slower, so it means that we have to work in order to give something to our rider that allows them to push the bike to the limit every lap.

"If the limit is 100 per cent then you have to stay at 99.9 because if you’re at 99 you’re one per cent lower and that is one second. So we have to build something that allows the rider to be consistently and safely closer to the limit. Maybe the main problem of our bike is not the limit but it is to give the rider the right feedback."

source: MCN

Aragon win impossible, says Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi says it is unrealistic to consider emulating Casey Stoner’s 2010 victory at the Motorland Aragon next week.

The Motorland Aragon race was the weekend last season when Aussie Stoner made a big breakthrough with the front-end set-up of the GP10 Desmosedici and he went on to win three of the last six races.

But Rossi said it was impossible to believe that he could repeat Stoner’s success, with the current GP11.1 unable to even challenge for the podium at present.

Rossi has scored only one podium finish in his debut season with Ducati, and even the eternally optimistic 32-year-old  accepts that a sudden transformation in fortunes isn’t likely.

The Italian is due to test an aluminium frame in Mugello this week to try and solve some of the vague front-end feeling problems he’s experienced throughout 2011.

But there will be no miracle cure in time for the Motorland Aragon race, which is round 14 of this year’s world championship.

Rossi said: "I don’t think it is possible. Stoner arrived in Aragon and changed very much the way of his season. A lot of people say to me this bike won three of the last six races but for me I say this bike won three of the last 18 races of last year. From that moment Stoner modified the setting and he rode like a devil and he made great results with nothing to lose and he made all or nothing. That is not a criticism of Casey because at this moment I am not able to do like him. In Aragon hopefully we can stay closer. Last year Nicky (Hayden) was very fast but it will be difficult."

source: MCN

Nicky Hayden hoping for Aragon boost

Nicky Hayden is hoping a return to the Motorland Aragon track in Spain next week will spark a major revival in fortunes for the American.

Hayden enjoyed his best race of 2010 at the impressive new Motorland Aragon track when he passed Jorge Lorenzo on the final lap to claim third place.

With Casey Stoner surging to his first win of the season too, the Motorland Aragon proved to be the best race of a difficult season for Ducati.

But Hayden and team-mate Valentino Rossi will head to the state-of-the-art track next week facing an impossible task of repeating last year’s doube rostrum.

Hayden is currently in a nightmare spell having dropped from fifth to last in his home race in Indianapolis and in Misano last weekend he suffered another horror show.

Hayden crashed out on the third lap and in the last four years he’s not scored a single point in Misano.

The 2006 world champion though remains positive that he can turn his form around at the Motorland Aragon and he told MCN: "It probably won’t be quite as good as last year but that was clearly our best race. I’m trying to be positive and truthfully we should be closer there. The track was brand new last year and completely smooth, so we’ll see how well it has held up.

"Last year it was really grippy but the key is there are a lot of corners that have open exits with no hairpins. Our bike doesn’t turn and it is hard to finish the corner, so last year after the race Filippo (Preziosi) asked me why he thought we went so well there and it was because there was no bumps, there was a lot of grip and the corners had a lot of open exits. Turning is important there but it is not a must.

"Hopefully we can be like last year and have the best weekend of the season. That would be nice and I could do with catching a break soon."

source: MCN

Ducati boss: Rossi is a ‘lion in a cage’

Ducati's engineering expert Filippo Preziosi reckons Valentino Rossi is like a lion trapped in a cage and he warned the Italian's rivals to expect a much more competitive threat once the Bologna factory has improved its Desmosedici machine.

Rossi hasn't posed any serious threat to the podium on a consistent basis all season and after 13 rounds off a tough debut season with Ducati, he's only scored one top three finish in Le Mans.

Preziosi made the lion in a cage reference in Misano last weekend when he was asked whether Ducati was pressing Dorna to increase the winter testing schedule to help Rossi close the gap on Honda rival Casey Stoner and former Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

He said: "The other companies have asked to reduce the tests just for Valentino. We don’t think the crucial point is the number of days. The crucial point is to interpret the information that comes from our riders in the right way, design the right part and test properly the parts and then the last thing is to have the right rider and we have it. They know how dangerous he is because the lion is in the cage. When we open the cage it will be very dangerous."

source: MCN

Rossi: I was a little crazy…

After a weekend spent entirely outside of the top ten, Valentino Rossi gave his local fans reason to cheer with a spirited performance in the opening laps of Sunday's Misano MotoGP race.

Starting just eleventh on the grid, Rossi used the uncertainty caused by spots of rain to rise to sixth by the end of the first lap, then gained another place by passing Yamaha replacement Ben Spies.

That was as good as it got, with Marco Simoncelli and Spies later overtaking Rossi, but the seven time MotoGP champion admitted seventh place was better than he had expected. 

“I'm pretty happy because we didn't expect to do this well," Rossi said. "I didn't think I'd be able to stay with the second group, which is our goal at the moment, and instead we managed it for half the race. 

"We still weren't able to attack like we'd like to, but anyway, we were right there. I started really well from the fourth row, and I was a little crazy through the first three corners because I had to push even though there were some raindrops. 

"It was nice after that. I stayed with 'Sic' and 'Dovi' for a little while and also battled with Spies, and we maintained a good pace. 

"This morning we made a good change on the front, and if we'd done that yesterday I probably could have started closer to the front. 

"It ended up being one of my best races of the year, although of course we have to remember that we're only talking about seventh place. Still, it was a nice race in front of a good crowd. We're fairly satisfied as we wait to take the necessary steps forward.”

source: crash.net

Hayden's curse continues at 'worst circuit'

Nicky Hayden's appalling Misano luck struck once again on Sunday, when the factory Ducati rider crashed out of the race on lap three.

Since Misano returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2007, Hayden has only reached the finish once - in that first year - and that was in 13th place after being forced through the gravel o lap one.

The American then withdrew from the 2008 event due to injury, was taken out by Alex de Angelis at the first turn in 2009 and clashed with Loris Capirossi at the same place in 2010!

To make matters worse, Hayden - starting just 15th on the grid - had been fifth fastest in morning warm-up.

“It was obviously a disappointing race," Hayden began. "This morning I was able to go a couple tenths faster than in qualifying, with a good rhythm. I thought we had a better chance for the race. 

"It was raining a little bit at first, which is normally good for our bike. I got a decent start, felt good, and was going to take a few chances to try to get up as far as I could. Then I lost the front on the exit of Turn 15 and - bam! - I was down. 

"We looked at the data, and I'm not really sure why I crashed. We were tip-toeing because of the rain, so maybe the left side of the tyre wasn't quite up to temperature, although it was still rider error. 

"This track has been the worst one on the calendar for me. I certainly could use some good luck, and maybe we'll get it at Aragon.”

source: Crash.net

Positive home race race for Rossi

Following a change in the morning warm-up, the Italian made a brilliant start to the race, moving from 11th on the grid up into sixth. Rossi maintained a fast rhythm for a good part of the 28 lap race, enjoying some nice battles with Spies, Dovizioso and Simoncelli in front of his home crowd. His rhythm dropped a bit toward the end, but the work carried out by his team and the base settings used for the race are promising for the next round at Aragon in two weeks.

Following a strong warm-up and a good start, Nicky Hayden fell while exiting turn 15 on the third lap, and he wasn’t able to return to the track, an unfortunate early end for the American.

Valentino Rossi: 

“I’m pretty happy because we didn’t expect to do this well. I didn’t think I’d be able to stay with the second group, which is our goal at the moment, and instead we managed it for half the race. We still weren’t able to attack like we want to, but anyway, we were right there. I started really well from the fourth row, and I was a little crazy through the first three corners because I had to push even though there were some raindrops. It was nice after that. I stayed with Simoncelli and Dovi for a little while and also battled with Spies, and we maintained a good pace. This morning we made a good change on the front, and if we’d done that yesterday I probably could have started closer to the front. It ended up being one of my best races of the year, although of course we have to remember that we’re only talking about seventh place. Still, it was a nice race in front of a good crowd. We’re fairly satisfied as we wait to take the necessary steps forward.”

Nicky Hayden: 

“It was obviously a disappointing race. The team did a good job, as they made a couple of changes overnight, and this morning I was able to go a couple tenths faster than in qualifying, with a good rhythm. I thought we had a better chance for the race. It was raining a little bit at first, which is normally good for our bike. I got a decent start, felt good, and was going to take a few chances to try to get up as far as I could. Then I lost the front on the exit of Turn 15 and—bam!—I was down. We looked at the data, and I’m not really sure why I crashed. We were tip-toeing because of the rain, so maybe the left side of the tyre wasn’t quite up to temperature, although it was still rider error. This track has been the worst one on the calendar for me. I certainly could use some good luck, and maybe we’ll get it at Aragon.”

Vittoriano Guareschi: 

“I think today presents some positive aspects that have to be considered. We made a change to Valentino’s bike that allowed him to maintain a better rhythm in the race than he had managed in practice, and he was able to fight: he had a really good start and then rode fast for as long as he could. Of course I’m sorry for Nicky’s crash, because he really had a nice warm-up this morning, and he also got a good launch off the start and passed a lot of riders. We’re working really hard, and next week we’ll be back on the track at Mugello for three days of testing.

Ducati Team press release

Gearbox troubles continue for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi suffered more gremlins with Ducati’s seamless shift gearbox in Misano today after he qualified in a lowly 11th place in front of his home crowd.

Rossi’s GP11.1 was struck by a downshifting issue in Indianapolis last weekend when dropped to dead last before fighting back to finish 10th.

Rossi’s bike goes into neutral and he was hit by the same problem again in Misano today and he was seen running off track on at least three occasions.

When asked by MCN to explain why he was continually running off track, he said it was more to do with the faulty gearbox than the chronic lack of front-end feeling that has plagued the Italian during the entire 2011 season.

The 32-year-old: "When I run off the track it is because I always have a problem with the gearbox and it is like in Indianapolis it remains in neutral. For this reason now we have to understand what happens tomorrow because for sure if I make one mistake like this in the race I’ll lose a lot. We have a problem because our new generation gearbox is still not ready and sometimes it has a problem and remains in neutral. This is one thing to work on for next year. The engine braking is so important but you don’t understand immediately you’re in neutral. There is no way to stop the bike without the gears."

Another issue for Rossi on his way to clocking a best time of 1.34.676 was a lack of front-end feeling under hard braking.

Rossi finished 1.538s behind Casey Stoner’s pole time but he believes he could have secured a spot on the third row of the grid after Randy de Puniet blocked him at the final hairpin.

Rossi added: "Today the feeling was better with the bike but unfortunately we could have made a better position because on my good lap I came across de Puniet at the last hairpin and I lost 0.5s, so without this I could start from the third row. The lap time is not fantastic and especially because the other guys are going very fast.

"There is no clear part of the track where we lose time, we lose 0.3s in every section. Usually in the race our pace is quite good and we can improve our position but for sure it will be a hard race. I always have some problem with the front pushing in the hard braking, so we will start from behind and see what happens."

source: MCN

Challenging qualify for Ducati Team at Misano

The Italian managed to find a setup for the race that is better than what he used on Friday, but he experienced bad luck on his final lap when another rider blocked his way. After a promising morning session, Nicky Hayden had a harder time than expected in qualifying, and tomorrow he’ll start from the fifth row of the grid and try to make up ground

Valentino Rossi:

“Today went a bit better. We changed the setup a little compared to yesterday, and then we stuck with that, making small steps. There were no longer parts of the track where I lost a lot of time compared to the others, as we reached a steady level around the entire lap, although of course we’re still not as fast as we’d like to be. I was a little unfortunate on what would have been my fast lap, because after three good sectors, I came upon De Puniet going slow in the final hairpin before the last two left-handers, and there alone I lost half a second. Otherwise I could have done a 1:34.0 and started from the third row, which is what we had set out to do. Anyway, I’m not too bad in terms of pace, so we’ll see what we can do in the race tomorrow.”

Nicky Hayden:

“This morning wasn’t bad to start with. I had used tyres from yesterday and was able to find a rhythm and do some decent laps. As has been the case lately though, things got worse in the afternoon. I was pushing the front, and I had a lot of front chatter, even with the soft tyres. It’s tough for Ducati here at their home, with the team trying hard and all the fans wanting to see us do something. I’ve got to believe the bike is better than fifteenth, so I’ve got to do a better job myself. It’s not the day we hoped for, and we’ll try to do better in the race tomorrow.”

Ducati Team press release

Filippo Preziosi: "I'd like to try to Stoner on the Ducati 2012"

"The assumption we made is that the problem is the flexibility of the frame, but is not the fault of the choice of carbon. Anyway, that road we took after the comments from Stoner and Melandri, on the fact that the frame of aluminum tubes were not sufficiently rigid. Casey when she tried that carbon had been very strong and I think it's human to adopt a solution when your pilot is strong "

The engineer Filippo Preziosi said so at the BBC, and without adding too many notions about the solutions to be adopted in the 2012 motorcycle, candidly admits that he made ​​some mistakes in evaluating the structural rigidity, but justified by the feedback they have given pilots in testing the new monocoque seen for the first time the Ducati Desmosedici GP9.

"I'd like to absurd even to try the new bike Casey to see what I say. In any case, it will test the chassis 2012 in the race " . With this sentence to the limit between the output unhappy and just a simple thought to be taken seriously, the father of all the talk ends D16. Valentino Rossi , however, seems more absolutist and comments with a phrase worthy of a thriller: "To test Valencia we have a clear idea of what to do. We are working, but I wait two years, then ... "

Free practice challenging for Ducati Team

The first day of practice at the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini featured high temperatures and humidity levels making quite conditions very challenging for all the riders. Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden worked to find a setup that will work with the fairly slippery asphalt and, toward the end of the second session, the Italian managed to have a decent run with the soft tyre. Tomorrow, both riders will work to improve their setups for the qualifying session.

Valentino Rossi: 

“Fortunately, I managed to do two or three good laps at the end of the session, and to make up a few positions. We struggled because we wanted to ride with the hard tyre in order to work for the race, but unfortunately, following a promising start, I found it more difficult as the pace steadily improved. We lacked rear grip, especially with the bike leaned over, so we mounted the softer tyre at the end of the session. Today I did a ’35.3, but tomorrow we’ll try to cut at least half a second, working to also improve the feeling with the front under braking. We’ll start with the base setting from Brno and Laguna, and we’ll try some difference changes on the second bike.”

Nicky Hayden: 

“This obviously isn’t how we hoped to come out of the gate here. I like this track okay, but it seems like every time I come here, it’s very hard to get up to speed. Basically, I’m pushing the front on corner entry and can’t get it stopped. My ideal time is ’35.0, but I can’t be consistent and put laps together. The track isn’t bad, but it’s hot and slippery and a little bit bumpy, and those things really don’t favor me on this bike. We’re definitely up against it but we’ll try a different solution for tomorrow.”

Ducati Team press release

Hayden hoping to get past the first corner

Nicky Hayden has only finished one of the four San Marino Grands Prix since 2007 - and hasn't got around the first corners unscathed for the past two years.

The American finished 13th after being forced through the gravel at the start of the 2007 race, withdrew from the 2008 event due to injury, was taken out by Alex de Angelis at the first turn in 2009, then clashed with Loris Capirossi at the same corner in 2010!

Hayden arrives at round 13 of the 2011 season fresh from a disappointing home race at Indianapolis, which saw him drop down the order to 14th and last with front tyre problems.

“Indy was a bad race, but some how, some way, you've got to try to get over it and move on," said the Ducati rider. "Misano has been a tough track for me, because it seems like I can't ever get through the first corner. It would be nice to catch a bit of a break, because I don't feel like we're always getting the results we deserve. 

"We learned a lot about the new bike in Indy, so I hope we've got a good starting point there. We'll see what the weather's going to do. Hopefully it won't be too hot, as that makes things more difficult for us. Anyway, we need to do our best and try to improve our bike.”

Misano will be Ducati's second and final home round of the season. Like Valentino Rossi, team manager Vittoriano Guareschi has warned it could be another tough weekend for the Italian team.

“Misano is a round that means a lot to all of us, and it's the home race for Valentino. We'll have many fans there, and we'd like to put both Vale and Nicky in position to get good results," he began.

"Naturally, we'll try our best, as we do at every race weekend, although we know that the type of work we're doing on the bike pays off over the long term. 

"It's definitely a difficult moment for us because the results aren't what we'd like, but it's very gratifying to see the great effort and determination from our riders, the team and everyone at Ducati."

Rossi philosophical over Misano potential

Valentino Rossi says his loyal fanbase shouldn't get their hopes up too high ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano as he prepares for his much anticipated home event with Ducati.

The seven-time 500cc/MotoGP champion has endured a series of high profile struggles since joining forces with Ducati this season, not least at the most recent Indianapolis Grand Prix when a qualifying crash and race day gearbox problems consigned him to a distant tenth place.

Turning his attentions to this weekend's event at Misano, Rossi admits he would prefer to be making his first visit to his local circuit as a Ducati rider with a better run of form behind him.

With this in mind, Rossi has told fans to be prepared for results that 'won't be satisfying', even if he has vowed to do his utmost to go beyond the current lacklustre situation.

“We'll be racing in front of our home fans at Misano, and obviously we'd like to do better than we have at recent races. Indianapolis was very difficult, and we would have preferred to arrive here in better shape, but we're aware that much of our work is aimed toward the future. 

“For the moment, we must take into account the possibility that our results won't be satisfying, first for us but also for our fans. We're all working at our maximum, both at the track and in the company, and in the meantime, we'll try to do as well as the current situation allows.”

source: crash

Guareschi: big effort, little reward

For Vittoriano Guareschi, and for the rest of the Ducati team, the results at Indianapolis were difficult to swallow. Following the race, long meetings were held with both Rossi and Hayden (photo).

"Today was very challenging for our team and riders, and despite their typical great efforts, we struggled to bring home a few points - the Italian team manager said - After the positive performance at Brno, we expected to find a good rhythm here at Indianapolis as well. We didn’t manage it, although it’s also true that we suffered a few setbacks. For example, Nicky chose a soft front tire that proved not to be the best, but his race pace in the early laps was very good, while Valentino had a transmission problem that had never shown up during the four practice sessions. Anyway, we know that we have to improve, and no one at Ducati or in the team is holding back as we work toward that goal.”

source: GP One