http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.as ... nid=102228
Just one day after the end of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship, the Ducati Marlboro Team returned to the Valencia circuit to commence its winter testing programme with Loris Capirossi and new signing Carlos Checa.
Checa tried the Desmosedici GP4 for the first time this afternoon, clocking a best lap of 1min 34.0secs. That is 0.3secs faster than his fastest lap from Sunday's season ending Valencia Grand Prix, when he finished 14th on a factory Yamaha M1, but 0.21secs slower than the best race lap by outgoing Ducati rider Troy Bayliss.
Checa's best lap of the Valencia GP weekend was a 1min 33.5secs circulation set in final qualifying, which put him ninth on Sunday's grid but was set with the aid of super sticky qualifying tyres.
Meanwhile, Capirossi rode 41 laps today, working to try and find the traction he lacked during the race weekend. The Italian set a best time of 1min 34.4secs, effectively matching his fastest race lap, but leaving him 0.4secs slower than his new team-mate.
Both riders will continue testing for two more days.