From a press release issued by Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks – Scuderia Caracchi:

WINTER TEST IN VALENCIA AT THE EVE OF WORLD SUPERBIKE DEBUT

Started yesterday the last winter test session on Valencia circuit. Both the riders went on the work to understand the new 999RS. Garry McCoy recorded, after a first day with long pit stops due to a few heating problem, a good 13th lap time without hard pushing, with the goal to learn the limits of the new machine.

“Actually it does feel like my first day of testing, despite I’ve been testing the 999RS already in Almeria” – said a satisfied McCoy at the end of the day – “Almeria was for me more to get used to the bike and make a few laps, but too much trafic on the track and the weather conditions didn’t suit us. Yesterday we had some problem, so it made me slow down a bit during the day because we couldn’t do more then a couple of laps each time we were goimg out. Today finally I got a very good feeling about the bike. I still am trying to get used to it, but I won’t need much more time to open the throttle with confidence. Today finally we had any problem and we have been able to do a lot of laps and a lot of setting work. The team is working very hard to get the bike I want. I’m really happy with them, they work without pressure and this is very important for a rider. I’m pretty sure that all together we will make one of the best teams.”

Miguel Praia too continued his learning job on a machine totally different from the bikes he rode before; the young rider has good riding qualities, but he want absolutely miss the mistakes that, like last year for Garcia, could vanish a good racing debut in this season:

“For me it’s all new ” – declares Miguel back in the pit – “I’m slowely having a better feeling with the bike, but in that conditions also to set the bike is more difficult. I want try to miss bad mistakes that could destroy this season that’s very important for my career.”

Together with Team Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks is testing in Valencia also Gianfranco De Matteis who is going to be present as wild card in some event on the 998RS of the team:

“I’m tired but satisfied of my job” – said De Matteis – “I was not riding a racing bike since last round of World SBK held in Brands Hatch last July, so I’m out of exercise, for this I’m satisfied of those two day testing.”