DUCATI ON TOP AT QATAR TEST
D
ucati's Andrea Dovizioso
stayed on top of the time
sheets, as the final day of Mo-
toGP pre-season testing in Qa-
tar was a wash, literally, as wet
conditions made on-track action
unsafe under the lights.
Although it's early days yet
to predict how the all-new
Desmosedici GP15 will stack
up to the Factory Hondas and
Yamahas over the course of the
season, the Ducati team had
an impressive showing. Both
riders—Dovizioso and Andrea
Iannone—topped testing, with
Iannone leading the way on
day one. The Ducati duo leave
Qatar satisfied even though they
were unable to complete the
final day's scheduled workload,
which also included an entire
race simulation.
"We are very satisfied with
the results obtained in the first
two days of testing in Qatar,
because we were always very
quick both on new tires and
used ones," Dovizioso said. "It's
a pity that today we were unable
to go out on track, because we
had some important tests to
do in view of the race, and we
wanted to gather some extra
data, but the rain made it impos-
sible. In any case, we start the
season very satisfied over the
work done with the new GP15,
which immediately went well
here in Qatar. I really think that
we can have our say in the race,
and for sure things are a lot
more positive than last year."
Dovizioso's teammate,
although disappointed to miss
out on a final day of testing, was
also satisfied with the team's
showing at Qatar and ended
the final pre-season test third
overall.
"I am happy with the way
these two days of testing went,
because they were undoubtedly
very positive," Iannone said.
"We went really well and again
managed to improve the feeling
with the new GP15, even though
IN
THE
WIND
P42
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
Andrea Dovizioso
leads the way
at the final
pre-season
test before the
season opener in
Qatar.
