Michael Ruben Rinaldi had his first test with his new team and has entered his winter break in a good mindset ahead of the 2024 season.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi has been dropped from the Factory Ducati squad for the 2024 season and has moved to Motocorsa Ducati.
The Italian has been a race winner and a regular podium place finisher in the Factory Ducati squad so sticking on a Ducati was his best move. Rinaldi replaced the departing Axel Bassani at Motocorsa Ducati and seemed pleasantly surprised by how good the bikes were in the satellite Ducati squad.
“It was a really different day for me. It was the first day with my new team," started an upbeat Rinaldi.
"Our goal was to check whether the bikes were more or less the same as the factory ones, and actually I was quite surprised because the level of this team and the bike are nothing worse than the factory team. The first lap was nice inside the helmet. We tried to check both of the bikes and the feeling was great. I was able to lap pretty quickly.”
Rinaldi went on to talk about how he found riding his new bikes and the pace that he was able to set despite not being in the factory squad anymore.
“Wednesday we completed many laps, unlike Tuesday. We were able to do many laps and try different things on the bike. I’m quite happy.
"I was pretty consistent and had good pace with the used tyre. At the end, everybody put on the SCQ, and everything changed.
"On pace, I think we were strong with the used tyre, so this is the best thing. If we want to improve on time attack, we need to work a little bit more because, at the moment, we’re not that fast.
"For the rest I’m really happy and satisfied. The team worked really well, we tried different things and the valve they gave to me worked really well. I’m going home for the winter rest with a smile on my face.”
