Marco Melandri rides Ducati WorldSBK at Misano

Marco Melandri rode with Ducati WorldSBK riders Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano this week at Misano. While Ducati released lap times for both Davies and Giugliano, they only made mention of positive results for Melandri. This was the Italian’s first ride on the WorldSBK specification Ducati Panigale R.

Marco Melandri

“It was a very emotional moment for me to return to the track on a Superbike. We worked methodically, progressively getting back in the groove and trying first of all to find the right position on the bike. Then, we tested different chassis and electronics configurations to understand how the bike reacts. I was really impressed by the precision of the front, which is crucial for my riding style. Even without paying much attention to the lap times, we were faster than our expectations. Now I’ll focus on my training program ahead of the next tests.”

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team enjoyed three days of testing at the Misano World Circuit, scheduled both to evaluate chassis and electronics upgrades as well as to help Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano to maintain their confidence on the Panigale R at the best levels during the summer break.

Davies and Giugliano clocked 66 and 111 laps respectively, both posting faster lap times than during the race weekend. Giugliano tested on Monday and Tuesday, while Davies stayed in the pits Tuesday due to a back strain and completed his program on Wednesday morning.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7) 1’34.6

“We started off in the right direction on Monday, lapping immediately faster than during the race, but then I felt a muscle strain and I preferred to consult the medical staff at the track, which was very kind and helpful, before stepping back on the bike. Thankfully it was not a serious issue, I recovered quickly and today we were able to try some important things and collect data. Our base has improved compared with the last few rounds, I’m happier and more confident so I look forward to get back to racing.”

Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #34) 1’34.9

“It was important to step back on the Panigale R during the summer break, even though I’ve been training full-time. Misano has something in common with the Lausitzring track, so we tried to optimize our setup ahead of the next race. I have a really good feeling on the bike, in the last four rounds we managed to make strides and always step on the podium. We’re ready to tackle the next races and confident to be able to collect even better results.”