Michel Fabrizio has revealed his ambitions to remain with the Xerox Ducati team next season after getting the opportunity to sample the 2009-specification bike in testing at Mugello.
Although there is much speculation about who will occupy the position currently held by the soon-to-retire
Troy Bayliss, Fabrizio's patchy form on the works Ducati so far this year is not thought to have guaranteed his place either.
Nonetheless, Fabrizio has his eye set firmly on 2009 after getting the chance to begin the development of the F09 bike and complete a considerable amount of mileage.
"The testing here has gone well,” he said. “I've been riding the F09 and have really done some laps, 1154 kilometres, that's 220 laps over three days! We've been working hard and so I'd say we've learned a lot about how to continue with the development of this new bike.
With that in mind, Fabrizio is eager to stay where he is in order to get acclimatised to the machine he is eager to be racing next season and get a head-start on any potential team-mate.
“We've definitely had a productive few days, also in terms of my own professional growth as it's been great having the opportunity to work so closely with the development team."
World Superbike championship leader Bayliss, meanwhile, spent the three-day test fettling the set-up of his 2008 bike ahead of the next Misano round after admitting to struggling at the Nurburgring.
"It's been very useful testing here this week, ahead of the Misano race. We've worked on the settings of the bike to overcome the problems I felt I was having at Nurburgring.
“The high track temperatures meant we weren't so fast but I completed a lot of laps, around 450 yesterday and nearly 200 this morning so, even though I'm tired, it's been worthwhile coming here. The sessions have given us some important data and so I hope the work we've done here comes to fruition next week in Misano."
