Ducati's MotoGP squad spent their dry track time at Sepang this morning experimenting with a different fuel tank in order to change the GP13's weight distribution with both riders seeing an improvement.
New-boy Andrea Dovizioso has said it is difficult to make the Desmosedici turn - heard that before - but reckoned the changed were a positive step. My feeling with the bike has improved, and now I know it better than I did two weeks ago here at Sepang," he said.
"Today we did tests with the electronics, and we also made a comparison between two bikes with different configurations - one had a different fuel tank and weight distribution - but we didn’t have much time. It was nothing too major, but it was a positive step. That said, we still have to work hard on corner entry and corner speed.”
Old hand Nicky Hayden lost time at the start of the day, fiddling with some electronic mapping but stated the bike was 'nimbler' using the new weight settings.
“This morning we lost a bit of time sorting out some electronics mapping, but then we were able to do some good riding. Ducati brought a couple of things to try, mainly some changes to weight distribution, which helped make the bike a little nimbler on change of direction," said Hayden.
"Also, I’m able to brake better with the same amount of pressure on the lever. We still need to work on it, but anyway, it’s an improvement. With the weather, we obviously didn’t get a full a day with a dry track, but it was important for me to ride in the wet. We know the gap to the front is still too big, but we’re slowly making progress, and hopefully we can reduce it further over the next two days.”