FIRST APPROACH FOR FONSI NIETO ON THE DUCATI IN JEREZ

(Jerez 2005, January 23)

Fonsi Nieto made today his first test on the 999RS Ducati Caracchi-NCR on Jerez
circuit. It has been just a first contact to know the new bike. There was a lot
of trafic on the circuit, with a plenty of 250s running together, and of course
the lighter GPs with their different riding style are a hitch for the heavier
and powerful Ducati.

The fog of the morning forced the team in the pit and only nearly at midday
Nieto has been able to do his first outing. Fonsi rode a total of 65 laps,
entering frequently the pit to understand the new machine and how the setting
modification carried out on the bike could modify the handling of a bike totally
different from that he's used to. The fastest lap time of the Spanish rider was
1'48"3, a performance of course not to compare with the performances scored by
Ducati Corse factory team riders, but that wasn't obviously the goal of today's
test.

"It's a machine all different from the bike I'm used to." - said Fonsi Nieto at
the end of the day - "The few laps made in Almeria at the Christmas eve on a
749R haven't been absolutely sufficient to understand how a four stroke works!
Nevertheless I'm quite satisfied of this first contact, I believe I learned a
lot about the bike and the working method that it requests. That thanks the help
I had from the team. I could be faster, I know, but with all those 250s on the
track and my insufficient knowledge of the bike it could be stupid to look for
some risk.. In the next test session in Valencia I could have a better feeling
and to be able to look for my limits."

The team will return to Bologna tomorrow because the Jerez circuit is open to
125 tests and the predictable traffic will made not useful any test; next date
will be in February 6 and 7 in Valencia.