Ducati wraps up three-day test

From Marlboro Ducati

The three-day test session at the Tuscan track of Mugello concluded in a positive fashion for Sete Gibernau. The Spanish rider clocked up around 800km, first with the GP9 then with the GP8, finishing with a final exit on the GP9 for a "back-to-back" comparison.

In this, only his second test session after nearly two years away from the tracks, Gibernau proved he still has the speed and is also more than competent in providing the Ducati Corse engineers with useful feedback for the development of the Desmosedici.

His fastest lap on a race tire (Sete didn't test qualifiers) of 1:50.5 on board the GP8 was just a few tenths off this year's race record (belonging to Casey Stoner).

"I want to thank not only Ducati but also all the guys that have supported me here," declared Gibernau. "Some of them worked with me in 2006 and it was great to find ourselves together again. I've really enjoyed myself today and have had a completely new experience as a rider. The faster you go, the more obvious it becomes that this bike demands a real physical and mental effort, but when you manage to ride it well, the satisfaction is unique.

"I hope my work has been of use to Filippo [Preziosi], to help understand the differences between the GP8 and GP9. They are two machines with characteristics typical of Ducati, and the GP9, although new, has great potential."