Italian rides factory Panigale R ahead of 2017 racing return.
The Aruba.it Racing Ducati team gave Marco Melandri his first taste of the Panigale R that he will ride in the 2017 Superbike World Championship during a three-day test at Misano World Circuit this week.
Alongside current WorldSBK riders Chaz Davies and Davide Guigliano, Melandri made a positive first impression after recently clocking laps aboard a production version of the R upon signing.
“It was a very emotional moment for me to return to the track on a Superbike,” Davies said. “We worked methodically, progressively getting back in the groove and trying first of all to find the right position on the bike. Then, we tested different chassis and electronics configurations to understand how the bike reacts.
“I was really impressed by the precision of the front, which is crucial for my riding style. Even without paying much attention to the lap times, we were faster than our expectations. Now I’ll focus on my training program ahead of the next tests.”
While no laptimes for Melandri were made public by Ducati, Davies posted a 1m34.6s and Giugliano a 1m34.9s. They will now set their sights on the EuroSpeedway Lausitz round on 16-18 September.