Xerox Ducati brought their Vallelunga test to a close with Niccoló Canepa proving the best of the team's three riders on the final day of running.
Although on a different strategy to
Troy Bayliss and
Michel Fabrizio so as to prepare himself for his World Superbike debut at Brno next week, Canepa was still in impressive form as he came away with the second fastest lap of the test.
Indeed, Canepa was pleased with his performance and having now proved he is capable of challenging at the front of the field, he is itching to go racing.
"This morning when it was cooler we were going really well and there was a good level of grip, so a lot of the riders, me included, recorded their fastest times during that session. This afternoon I hoped to do more kilometres, in a race simulation, but it was really too hot and so the results didn't tell us very much.
“But overall I'm really happy with the way things have gone here. I hadn't been on a superbike for several months so the results are pretty positive. The only thing that I'm missing now is competition so I can't wait to get to Brno next week and finally race there, it will be very interesting to see how I do!"
Although upstaged by Canepa, Bayliss and Fabrizio were not far behind, the two regular riders emerging from the test with the third and fourth best times.
Bayliss was particularly pleased with his performance over a long distance as he concentrated on his bike's set-up in race conditions. However, he is refusing to read too much into the times, pointing out that other riders were looking equally as comfortable.
"It's gone well again today. We've worked really hard and done two long-runs, which is important in ensuring we're ready to go race distance. We were quite happy with the results, and went faster than we did here last year, although Nori was also going well in his long-run, so we'll be looking to improve further before the race here!
