Ducati with GP13 for Barcelona

The old Ducati GP13 will be run in Barcelona, and the new ‘lab bike’ will have to wait until the post race test to get its run out in Montmelo.

Despite both Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden testing the new bike in Mugello last week, Ducati feel further tests are required before the Factory riders can use the bike in race conditions.

Test rider Michele Pirro will also be in action in Barcelona, but he will also be on the GP13 rather that the lab bike as he once again stands in for the injured Ben Spies.

Ducati’s lab bike has a new chassis, new swingarm, modified electronics and smoother power delivery, but at the moment they can’t offer it to both factory riders.

“We’ll probably use the ‘Lab Bike’ only on the Monday test after the Catalunya GP again,” said Bernhard Gobmeier.

It will be interesting to compare times from Sunday’s race to the times posted Monday by Dovizioso and Hayden as they hop aboard the new bike.

Andrea Iannone also tested the new bike at Mugello, and should get another chance alongside Pirro and the factory riders on Monday to continue the development of the new bike, with the hope to have it ready to use, at least for Dovi and Hayden, in Assen at the end of the month.