A DELUGE AGAINST THE VALENCIA'S TEST

(Valencia 2004, December 13)

Atrocious weather conditions welcomed this morning in Valencia circuit the
riders for a two-day test organized for the 2005 World Supersport and Superbike
teams. Later, in the middle of the day, the rain attenuated until to stop,
allowing the bikes to practice, but the track remained wet and didn't allow to
let the rain tyres or, in the best moment, the intermediate tyres.

Engaged also the Scuderia Caracchi Ducati with both his riders, Lorenzo Lanzi on
the 999RS Superbike and Gianluca Nannelli on the 749R Supersport.

"The track was very wet and didn't allow us to complete al the working program
we've scheduled for today." - said Lorenzo Lanzi at the end of the day - 
Actually we could just to look for a good setting for wet conditions if when
we'll be here next April to race the Spanish round of the Championship it will
rain. I covered a total of about forty laps, with a quickest laptime in 1'52"2
using rain tyres. Unfortunately when the track dried a little bit and we could
use the intermediate tyres I've done a crash without any consequence, but I must
stop in the pit when the other riders were able to run. We hope to do something
better tomorrow, but the weather forecast give us any hope."

Gianluca Nannelli too crashed at the beginning of the practices, by luck any
consequence also for him.

"What a pity for this crash, we lot a bit of precious testing time." - regrets
Gianluca - "The long developing program scheduled for today has been ruined by
the rain. The crash has been very silly: we decided to start today's test using
the final set up found in the last test sessions here in Valencia, so the rear
suspension was quite hard and just I opened a bit the throttle at the first
corner, at the end of finish line, the bike slipped and throw me away. However
we tested several different setting, suspensions and tyres. My best laptime has
been 1'50"8 using the intermediate tyres, but we have to test several different
solutions."

This test session will end tomorrow, Tuesday December 14.