Press releases & team news

“Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari”, Imola (Italy), Tuesday 14th July 2009
Infront Motor Sports arranged official tests (14th-16th July) on the restyled Imola circuit in preparation for the forthcoming race event on 27th September. The Ducati Xerox Junior Team, during the day reserved for the Superstock classes, clocked up a good number of laps between the two riders. Xavier Simeon concluded the day in third position, Daniele Beretta in sixth.

The very high air temperature (34°) didn’t help Xavier Simeon who had been suffering for a few days from a flu virus. The Belgian rider was nevertheless able to complete 54 laps, although a problem with the clutch, just a few minutes from the end of the session, prevented him from improving further on his best time.

Xavier Simeon – “I’m physically pretty destroyed because for the last four days I’ve had this flu bug that was only partly helped by a visit to the Clinica Mobile. I didn’t want to miss the test seeing as we haven’t been here since 2006 and we needed to check out the modified track layout. We found a good balance even though my physical condition meant we couldn’t do all that we had planned. A small clutch issue in the final minutes stopped me from going faster but, to tell the truth, it would have been hard as I am really exhausted. I hope to get better over the next days so that I’m in top shape for the next race at Brno on July 26th.”

Daniele Beretta recorded 64 laps and during the afternoon managed to improve his time by more than seven tenths to finish the day sixth overall.

Daniele Beretta – “In the morning the air temperature was still bearable but by the afternoon it was absolutely scorching and much more difficult. Overall I’m very happy with the work we did as I found better feeling with my bike. I lost valuable tenths in the last laps but this had to do with the fact that traffic slowed me down. Not a bad day though and now we go to Brno where I’m obliged to do well!”

Final test times:

1. C.Corti (Suzuki) 1’52’’672;
2. M.Berger (Honda) 1’53’’133;
3. Xavier Simeon (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) 1’53’’597;
4. M.Magnoni (Yamaha) 1’53’’868;
5. D.Giugliano (Suzuki) 1’54’’628;
6. Daniele Beretta (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) 1’54’’372….

Press Officer: Heather Watson - Tel: +39.051.051.6413167 - Fax: +39.051.6413183 - Email: heather.watson@ducati.com Ducati Corse s.r.l. - Via Cavalieri Ducati, 3 - 40132 Bologna - www.ducati.com/racing