[More Pictures]

Thursday, 26th February 2004

After a successful start to their partnership in 2003, Ducati and title sponsor Fila will be lining up this year with an all-new Anglo-French rider pairing, following the departure of reigning champion Neil Hodgson and team-mate Ruben Xaus to MotoGP.

"I'm ready for the new season," the 23-year old said, "With the Fila Ducati team there's a lot of pressure on board, but I'm handling it well and looking forward to the first race. I've had a few mishaps in winter testing at Valencia and Phillip Island, but now everything is going well, the times are there-and-thereabouts, and I'm just looking forward to getting the first race meeting in to see where I'm at.

"I actually like Valencia now, testing here two weeks ago was the final shakedown to get the bike as good as you need it and I concentrated on getting the best set-up because it will become the benchmark for the rest of the season. The championship will see things close at the front, in my opinion there will be quite a few winners but, until you find out where you're at with a race distance on new tyres and new bikes, you just don't know. With the same tyres, things will be evened out and there'll hopefully be a scrap to the end.

"That's what people want to watch."

Advertisement

Related Images

[Top of Article]