A three-day Ducati MotoGP development test began today in Spain, at Jerez de la Frontera. Two teams, under the guidance of Technical Director Filippo Preziosi, supported official test rider Franco Battaini and Vittoriano Guareschi, who temporarily replaced his Team Manager duties with those of a rider. The test is being carried out to speed up the setup work of the Desmosedici GP11 for the two factory Ducati Marlboro Team riders, Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, who will take to the track themselves at the Sepang test in the first week of next month (February 1-3). It was a sunny day, but with high humidity in the morning, as is often the case at the Andalusian circuit, and Guareschi and Battaini were only able to get on the track around midday. “It was a very productive day,” said Vittoriano Guareschi after completing 50 laps, “even though the track’s grip was really bad, in part because of the high humidity and in part because the F3 test that took place until yesterday left the asphalt quite dirty. As planned, ‘Batta’ (Franco Battaini, 60 laps) and I divided the responsibilities. I worked on the chassis with the goal of improving turn-in, while Franco concentrated on the electronics, including the new anti-wheelie and anti-spin systems that we’re testing and adjusting. I think I found a couple of interesting things with set-up that help with the front-end feel. We worked on ride height, seat position, and on many aspects of bike set-up that will help with all of the data-acquisition work that are necessary to be ready for Malaysia, when Vale and Nicky will ask us to change the bike in various ways. It’s a refinement process that will proceed for the two days in order to speed up the factory riders’ work in Malaysia.”