From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Wednesday 20 November 2002

DUCATI DESMOSEDICI TESTING AT JEREZ CONCLUDES WITH MORE BAD WEATHER

Bad weather again affected Ducati Corse testing today at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain. The Italian manufacturer, which will make its MotoGP debut in 2003, had planned a three-day session this week at the venue for next May’s Spanish round of the championship, but the final day was also disturbed by rain.

The unusually uncertain weather conditions in the south of Spain in this period led to a change in the programme, allowing Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss to test the Ducati Desmosedici in wet-weather set-up, and although both riders put in few laps today, numerous positive indications emerged on a technical level.

While Loris lapped with the ‘Four Pulse’ version of the Italian V4 engine, Troy tested the Desmosedici with the ‘Twin Pulse’ layout. The Australian established a good feeling with this version of the power-unit, which adapts well to low-grip conditions. The two riders will continue the next tests with both engine versions.

Track Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli commented: “Unfortunately we haven’t been very lucky in the last two days but day 1 gave us a series of positive indications. Loris lapped quite well on a track he loves, while for Troy it was his first time out on a new circuit. Today both riders did very few laps due to the bad weather but despite this we look at the three-day ession here at Jerez as positive”.

Ducati Corse is unable to supply any images or rider comments of Loris Capirossi until the end of 2002.