From a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi-NCR:

FONSI NIETO: DUCATI TEST UNDER THE RAIN

Almeria, December 22, 2004


The bad weather doesn’t give any pause to the Team SC Caracchi-NCR, arrived in Almeria for a two-day test on the track in the South of Spain. Together with some test on the 749R Ducati Supersport for Gianluca Nannelli this occasion has also the purpose to close the contacts with Alfonso Gonzales Nieto, best know as Fonsi Nieto by sport motorcycle fans, to have the young Spanish rider on a 999RS Ducati to contest the next 2005 World Superbike Series.

Fonsi, just 26 last December 2, has never rode a 4 stroke bike and today has done about ten laps on the bike of Nannelli, showing to be at his own comfort and having good words for the general balance of the 749R. Tomorrow Thursday 23, hoping in better weather conditions, Fonsi Nieto will repeat the test looking for closing the final agreement with the team based in Bologna.

Stefano Caracchi, team owner, is quite satisfied: “Unfortunately we found terrible weather condition, rain and polar cold. Fonsi tested the 749R, the only bike available in this moment, and said to be quite satisfied. We are confident that we’ll be able to find a good agreement with him. Our goal in Superbike should be to recover completely a great rider like Fonsi after a grey racing season in 250GP, as we made with some other rider in the past, riding alongside to Lorenzo Lanzi, one of the best talent of the Superbike arena in a stimulating internal comparison.”

Today, despite the rain and the cold, Nannelli went on with his test until a good laptime of 1:45.7, actually to remark for the atrocious weather conditions where it has been scored.

The test will end tomorrow and the team we’ll return to Bologna.