Positive test for Avintia Racing at Jerez

27/11/15 Avintia Racing MotoGP – MotoGP Test Jerez

The Avintia Racing team finished today two positive days of testing at the Jerez circuit. Some weeks ago Hector Barbera and Loris Baz got on their new Ducati Desmosedici GP14.2 and tried the new Michelin tyres for the very first time, and at Jerez they had the chance to test the new electronics that all riders of the MotoGP grid will be using from the 2016 season. For Barbera the test was almost perfect and his feeling with the new French tyres was great, but overall, he was really happy with the step made with the electronics that helps him going in and out of the corners. The Open Class Champion was only half a second slower than the fastest guys at Jerez, and his pace is really good.

It was also an important test for Loris Baz, because for him, the tyres and the electronics are not the only new thing to adapt, Loris also has to get used to the Ducati and his new team. But as his teammate Barbera, he had really consistent pace. In the last day he suffered a minor crash when he was trying to improve his lap times, but fortunately he could walk away with no injuries. Baz left Jerez satisfied after two positive days of testing and he goes on holidays looking forward to come back at Malaysia next February.

HECTOR BARBERA #8 / 1’39.9 @HectorBarbera

We could test a lot of new stuff and we collected useful information for Ducati. Yesterday was hard to find the best set up with the electronics, but in the afternoon we did a step and I had really good pace. Today we made some changes, but they didn’t work and we had to go back, but at the end I was lapping in low 1’40 quite easy, and this is very positive. I could not do the fast lap I would like to, but we didn’t really focus on that as our target was to have a constant rhythm, and we did it. If we had to race tomorrow I think we’ll be very strong. The electronics are better, it’s easier when you open the throttle and also the exhaust valve helps you to stop and turn the bike. It’ soon to speak, but id we look at the pace here, from the best factory bike to ours, there is only 0.5s, so I think everything will be more tigh next season. I’m also very happy with the tyres, I already had good feeling at Valencia, but here in a circuit with different grip I felt even better with the front and the grip with the rear is fantastic. I’m adapting very really well and I think I’m one of the few riders that didn’t crash. I go step by step, without taking risks and that why I didn’t push for a lap today. Now is time to rest and then train hard to get back at Malaysia.

LORIS BAZ #76 / 1’40.2 @lorisbaz

I couldn’t do the fast lap at the end of the day because we had no grip with the new tyre, but overall I’m very happy with these two days of testing at Jerez. The pace is really good and I made my best lap in 1’40.2 with a 16 lap tyre, but the most positive is that I did almost 20 laps in that pace of 40.2, 40.3. So we didn’t do a fast lap as we wanted to, but our rhythm for the race is good. We have to work more with the electronics, today we improved a lot, but I’m not completely comfortable. These test were good to get everything sorted and have a base set up for Sepang. Right now we are more or less at the same level that with the Open Class software, but this have more potential so we have to keep working. I also had the chance to know better my new team and we made a good job during these two days working together. I’m happy because we tested a lot of things and the feeling was great. The winter will be long until February as I’m looking forward to ride my bike again. Now is time to relax, enjoy in the snow and think about next year.