Ducati reigns at rain soaked Valencia test.

A strong contingent of 2005 Worls Superbike and Supersport championship contenders, attending an unofficial test at Valencia on 13th and 14th December, found their plans to test their new machines somewhat hampered by the cold and generally wet weather conditions.

After the first day was blighted by early rains, and the wet track taking time to dry, many of the teams' hopes were pinned on better weather on day two.

However the teams were confronted with another day of wet conditions, and with a track temperatures never making it past single digit numbers, meant that most teams finished their sessions early, looking to early season tests in 2005 to complete their planned improvements. Valuable wet weather information was nonetheless gathered for official tyre supplier, Pirelli.

2005 Yamaha signing Andrew Pitt had his second test on the
YZF-R1, having spent three sun-kissed days at Valencia in mid November, with new suspension, slipper clutch and engine mapping modifications to test. Pitt worked throughout the two days but was not able to try out all the new parts for his official Yamaha entry.

"We worked on the mapping and injection systems a lot, to get the best response from the engine," commented Pitt. "We also tried some rear shocks with new settings, and so on. With it being so wet it was hard to get some of the info but we could definitely feel some improvements. I also tried out some different clutches and I think there are still a lot of progress to be done on that aspect of the set-up. Our next tests is at Phillip Island in late January, so we should have much better weather there."

Yamaha power has shown to be the choice of the field for next year with DFX Racing team, who were former Ducati runners, having their first combined tests with three riders, Jose Luis Cardoso, Marco Borciani and Miguel Praia on the teams new R1's. With the ultimate fastest times from the test proving to be near meaningless in the poor weather conditions, local rider Cardoso nevertheless set competitive times while long term DFX employee Borciani and 2004 rookie Praia may need time to make the transition to four-cylinder power, after their Ducati mounted 2004 season.

Despite the absence of the official Fila Ducati squad from this unofficial test session, the lone Ducati rider, NCR Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi, upheld the reputation of the Italian factory by setting the out-right fastest lap of the test. The 2004 factory Supersport rider makes the jump to Superbike in 2005, and at Valencia was running his Scuderia Caracchi 999 hard to set a 1min 40.0secs lap time. Affected by the weather as much as any other, Lanzi had an off on day one, saving his best lap for day two.

The PSG-1 Kawasaki team of Chris Walker and Mauro Sanchini doggedly lapped the Valencia circuit, as Walker attempted to overcome some issues of rear end performance on his 2005 machine. He tried different rear shocks and swingarms on his ZX-10, as he searched for a useable set-up to take to the next tests.

Giovanni Bussei was one of the many Kawasaki riders on display, setting a best of 1min 40.9secs on his big ZX. Alongside the World Superbike riders, Kawasaki racing also featured at Valencia, testing race kit parts for development purposes. The GMT endurance team had Davide Checa in attendance, running to a best of 1min 40.1secs, an impressive result in such conditions.

Some expected top competitors in the 2005 Supersport battle had outings on their new machines, with Yamaha showing off its official entry, the Yamaha Motor Germany team, for the first time.

New signing Broc Parkes and existing rider Kevin Curtain sang the praises of the new front end and engine response of the R6, with Curtain nonetheless limiting his lap count in the tricky conditions.

The Team Italia Megabike squad, not in possession of their new Hondas quite yet, had Fabien Foret and Michel Fabrizio lapping the 4km Valencia circuit. The fastest rider on show in Supersport was Gianluca Nannelli (Scuderia Caracchi Ducati 749) who set a lap of 1min 41.3secs.

Valencia test: fastest times
1. Lorenzo Lanzi 1min 40.0secs SC Ducati 999
2. Davide Checa 1min 40.1secs GMT Endurance
3. Michel Fabrizio 1min 40.4secs Team Italia Megabike Honda SS
4. Andrew Pitt 1min 40.5secs Yamaha Italia
5. Jose Luis Cardoso 1min 40.7secs DFX Yamaha
6. Sebastien Gimbert 1min 40.8secs Yamaha Motor France
7. Giovanni Bussei 1min 40.9secs ZX-10 Bertocchi
8. Gianluca Nannelli 1min 41.3secs SC Ducati 749 SS
9. Chris Walker 1min 41.5secs Kawasaki PSG-1
10. Broc Parkes 1min 42.00secs Yamaha Motor Germany SS
11. Kevin Curtain 1min 42.00secs Yamaha Motor Germany SS
12. Mauro Sanchini 1min 42.4secs Kawasaki PSG-1
13. Stefan Nebel 1min 42.7secs
14. Marco Borciani 1min 43.3secs DFX Yamaha
15. Miguel Praia 1min 43.7secs DFX Yamaha
16. Fabien Foret 1min 45.00secs Team Italia Megabike Honda SS
17. Pere Riba 1min 45.00secs Kawasaki SS
18. Jurgen van den Goorbergh No time given SL Ducati 749 SS

All times unofficial

SS - Denotes Supersport entry