Testing concludes at Jerez for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team concluded its track activities for 2017 with a three-day test at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain). Taking advantage of mild weather conditions, Marco Melandri clocked 208 laps to move forward with the development of the 2018-spec Panigale R, finishing with a personal best of 1:39.577.

Chaz Davies, on the other hand, was only able to test on the first day after being forced to interrupt his program ahead of schedule due to a crash that resulted in a right-knee ligament sprain coupled with a contusion.

The Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team debuts in WorldSBK with Michael Ruben Rinaldi
After two exciting seasons in the Superstock 1000 European Championship – resulted in a second place in its debut year and a title last season – the Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team is ready to step up to the challenge and compete in the WorldSBK Championship with Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who will ride a Ducati Panigale R.

Eleven wins, 10 fastest laps – both a record in the 2016 WorldSBK championship – and 17 podiums in 26 races overall were not enough to satisfy Chaz Davies’ hunger for success. The Welshman was undoubtedly a protagonist in the past season, closed with 7 wins (six of which came consecutively) out of the last 8 races. Still, he’s hunting for more.
It may sound as a paradox but, at age 34, Marco Melandri is ready to begin a second life as a rider. The Italian moved his first steps on a minibike when he was 4 and then fulfilled his dream to become a professional rider to compete for 18 consecutive seasons on the world stage between MotoGP and WorldSBK. All except for the last one, the longest of his career. But now Melandri is ready for a new start.

Original Source[ DUCATI ]

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