“Now I have to do a strange line with this bike in the corners. I can't do the line I want. What we need is an improvement of turning, then I can change the line to what I think is the best line to ride faster,” he said.
“This best line is from what Bridgestone request and what I have learnt in the last two years about the tyres. That is what we need to close the gap further. The
MotoGP tyres we have today, we have to keep as little time on maximum lean angle as we can.”
Dovizioso also got to try the experimental laboratory bike of test rider Michele Pirro, featuring a new frame. The changes present on that all-black machine didn't seem to help the mid-corner characteristics, but did improve braking and entry another notch.
“I couldn't make a better lap time because the riding position and engine spec was not the same as my bike. But the main thing was to understand if the differences on the lab bike worked or not, and it was positive,” said Dovizioso.
“The last part of braking and entry was better. It helped me to enter the corner easier. A small but positive difference. This is important to keep the direction for the future.”
The GP13 currently has only minor difference relative to last year's GP12, with the introduction of major developments not due until several races into the new season.
With Ducati opting to skip this week's private Austin test, Dovizioso will next be on track for the third and final official test at
Jerez from March 23-25.
“I'm really interested to go to
Jerez [test] and Qatar [race] because they are completely different tracks and these can give me a clear situation of this bike,” said Dovizioso.