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December 10, 2003 |
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MOTOGP TEST – DAY 1 |
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Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus made their first appearances on board the D’Antin MotoGP Team’s new Ducati Desmosedicis today in Valencia, amidst a great deal of expectation before their debuts in the MotoGP World Championships.
Along with the rest of the team, both riders were extremely enthusiastic, and were very positive at the end of the first day of testing. Despite the poor forecasts, the weather improved to allow them to lap constantly throughout the sunny afternoon, and while Neil completed a total of 48 laps of the track, Rubén managed 43 until a crash ended his session, with no damage to rider nor machine.
Xaus set a lap of 1’36.90, and was delighted with a debut he had been keen to get on with: “Everything is positive. It’s a completely new experience, but there’s good chemistry between myself and the whole team and I am really happy with the bike. It’s as if my Christmas present had come early! The biggest difference I’ve noticed in comparison with my previous bike is in the brakes. I have to learn to heat these carbon brakes through well first, because they don’t get on too well with the cold temperatures, and here in Cheste today it wasn’t too warm. This was part of the reason I crashed, because I touched a white line and also I don’t think I was warming them up enough. But that’s all part of the learning process, and I’m sure I’ll improve over the next couple of days.”
Luis D´Antin was just as delighted as his new team riders: “Today I was frankly envious of both Ruben and Neil, and I share their joy. I think that it has been a very positive first run out, and I’m particularly happy to see two riders in our pit garage once more.”
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360° Tour
Visit Ruben's motorhome
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360° Tour
Tour Ruben's pit garage
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360°
A
look around Ruben's 999F03
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