DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM AT ASSEN WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT STEPS The Ducati Marlboro Team, continuing its development process with the Desmosedici, will introduce a variety of new updates at Assen. Valentino Rossi will take to the track with the next generation of the bike, called the GP11.1. The design process for this bike began after the Sepang tests, with construction beginning after the riders approved the GP12’s chassis during its first test, at Jerez. For the GP11.1, the Corse Department prepared an 800cc engine that installs in the chassis that Ducati engineers are developing for 2012. The bike will also use a new gearbox, the “DST- Ducati Seamless Transmission”, the design process for which began in 2010. Nicky Hayden, who has already used four engines this season, will use a GP11 equipped with the step-2 frame, whose stiffness has been further modified compared to the step-1 version that was introduced at the Estoril test. According to the engine-rotation schedule, he will ride the GP11.1 at Laguna Seca. Assen is a track that both Ducati Marlboro Team riders like very much, and one where both have achieved strong results: seven victories and three podiums across all classes for Valentino Rossi, one victory and a podium for Nicky Hayden. VALENTINO ROSSI, Ducati Marlboro Team “Assen is one of my tracks””one of those that I like most and where I’ve had some nice races in all the classes. We’ll try to take advantage of that good feeling and of our experience at this circuit because Thursday morning we’ll debut some updates to my bike that are very promising but also very fresh. Filippo [Preziosi], the guys at Ducati and the Test Team have worked really hard, and that has enabled us to make this new step with the development of our bike. We haven’t had the chance to test the 800 since Estoril, so we’ll do it during the race weekends, being aware that despite having very limited time, we’ll have to focus on two jobs: making basic adjustments to the new technical parts, and finding a general setup for the race on Saturday. We’ll have to do a good job on the track in order to get the most out of the work done at the factory. It will be hard, and we know it might take some time before we can completely reach the potential of the whole package, but we’re happy and motivated by the work we’re doing.” NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati Marlboro Team “There was no GP this past weekend, but the time went by pretty quickly, as I had a test at Mugello and a couple of PR appearances. Now it’s time for Assen, which is an awesome race. I have some good memories there, including a win, and it’s a place I really like, with a lot of history and tradition. The track has changed over the years, but I like the new section. We’ve had a big gap to the front lately, but now we have another new step with the chassis. The first step helped with the feeling, and hopefully this one will also help with the lap time. It’s clear that Ducati is working hard, and that’s motivating for me, for the team, and for all of our Ducati supporters. I look forward to getting my hands on a GP11.1 as soon as possible as well.” FILIPPO PREZIOSI, Ducati Technical Director “We decided to make the GP11.1, which is an 800cc engine in a GP12 chassis, in order to accelerate development on next year’s bike, and also to provide our riders with a potentially better base for the current championship. Considering that Valentino still hasn’t ever ridden the GP11.1, this decision could require some races for the team to completely take advantage of its potential, but we decided to move forward with it because we believe it’s an important step for our development process. The next-generation gearbox, on the other hand, is a solution that we think will be an immediate improvement. The Ducati Corse Department will continue studying further innovations, both for this year and for 2012. At the same time, we have developed an additional step for the frame for Nicky, and he’ll receive the GP11.1 at Laguna Seca.” ASSEN CIRCUIT RECORDS Circuit Record: Dani Pedrosa (Honda 2010), 1’34.525 172.982 Km/h Best Pole: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha – 2010), 1’34.515 – 173.001 Km/h Circuit Length: 4,542 km MotoGP Race 2011: 26 laps (118,092 km) MotoGP Schedule 2011: 15:00 Local Time Number of laps: 26 Total race distance: 118,092 km PODIUM 2010: 1st Jorge Lorenzo, 2nd Dani Pedrosa, 3rd Casey Stoner POLE 2010: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha 2010), 1’34.515 173.001 Km/h DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM’S BEST RESULTS AT ASSEN 2010: 3rd (Stoner) 2009: 3rd (Stoner) 2008: 1st (Stoner) 2007: 2nd (Stoner) 2006: 12th (Hofmann) 2005: 9th (Checa) 2004: 8th (Capirossi) 2003: 6th (Capirossi) DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER INFO VALENTINO ROSSI Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP11 Race number: 46 Age: 32 (born in Pesaro 16 February 1979) Residence: Tavullia (Pesaro, Italy) GPs: 247 (187 x MotoGP, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc) First GP: Malaysian GP, 1996 (125cc) Number of Wins: 105 (79 x MotoGP, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc) First GP win: Czech Republic GP, 1996 (125cc) Poles: 59 (49 x MotoGP, 5 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc) First Pole: Czech Republic GP, 1996 (125cc) World Titles: 9 (6 x MotoGP, 1 x 500cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc) Rossi’s MotoGP/500cc track record at Assen 2010: Grid: DNS; Race: DNS 2009: Grid: 1st; Race: 1st 2008: Grid: 3rd; Race: 11th 2007: Grid: 11th; Race: 1st 2006: Grid: 18th; Race: 8th 2005: Grid: 1st; Race: 1st 2004: Grid: 1st; Race: 1st 2003: Grid: 3rd; Race: 3rd 2002: Grid: 1st; Race: 1st 2001: Grid: 3rd; Race: 2nd 2000: Grid: 6th; Race: 6th Rossi’s 250 track record at Assen 1999: Grid: 1st; Race: 2nd 1998: Grid: 3rd; Race: 1st Rossi’s 125 track record at Assen 1997: Grid: 1st; Race: 1st 1996: Grid: 8th; Race: DNF NICKY HAYDEN Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP11 Race number: 69 Age: 29 (born 30 July 1981 in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA) Residence: Owensboro, Kentucky, USA Number of GPs: 140 (140 x MotoGP) First GP: Japanese GP, 2003 (MotoGP) Number of wins: 3 (3 x MotoGP) First GP win: USA GP, 2005 (MotoGP) Poles: 5 (5 x MotoGP) First Pole: USA GP, 2005 (MotoGP) World Titles: 1 (MotoGP, 2006) Hayden’s MotoGP track record at Assen 2010: Grid: 5th; Race: 7th 2009: Grid: 13th; Race: 8th 2008: Grid: 4th; Race: 4th 2007: Grid: 13th; Race: 3rd 2006: Grid: 4th; Race: 1st 2005: Grid: 5th; Race: 4th 2004: Grid: 16th; Race: 5th 2003: Grid: 12th; Race: 11th