Ducati enjoy positive test at Misano with Rinaldi quickest

Michael Ruben-Rinaldi was fastest for the Aruba.it Ducati team on the final day of testing in Misano, while team-mate Scott Redding finished fourth in what was productive test for the Italian team. 

Both riders had been occupying the top three positions along with Pata Yamaha's Toprak Razgatlioglu for much of the test, and in the closing hours of day two, Rinaldi showed blistering pace to move ahead of the Turkish rider with a 1m 33.688s lap time. 

Rinaldi and Redding spent much of the test working on setup, and trying the new Brembo front brake calipers that were available to test. 

Speaking after the final day, a pleased Rinaldi said: "I am very happy with how these two days of testing have gone.

"With the team we had prepared a very intense program that allowed us to collect a lot of information. The feeling on the race pace is very positive while there is still work to do on the time attack.

"However, I must admit that the sensations are extremely positive and I can't wait to be in Barcelona to get back on track."

Ducati will be looking to clinch their first World Superbike title this season since Carlos Checa did so in 2011, and Redding will be a big reason for that happening or not. 

Like his team-mate, working on the feeling with the bike was a key aspect of this test. 

Redding added: "We have worked a lot on many solutions. The goal was to improve my feeling with the new bike. We have made important steps forward but there are still some details to fix.

"I think the balance of this test is extremely positive because we worked a lot on used tyres without thinking about the chrono. After two consecutive tests at Misano we go to Barcelona with confidence."

As highlighted by Redding, next up for both men will be the official WorldSBK test at Barcelona on March 31-1 April.