Rossi Breaks Race Bike, Takes Stock 1198 Out On Silverstone

DucatiTorrey · May 17, 2011, 05:03:20 PM

"Valentino Rossi has been forced to take a fully road-legal, registered Ducati 1198S out at Silverstone after a 2009 racing superbike originally being used broke down after just four laps.

Ducati MotoGP rider Rossi has been using the launch of the new Â£25 million Silverstone Wing pit and paddock complex as the perfect time to get to know a track he has never raced at before. Rossi missed the 2010 race as he was recovering from breaking his leg at the earlier Mugello round in Italy.

Ducati supplied a 2009 superbike for Rossi but just four laps into the test it broke down and he was returned to the pits in the back of a white van.

A flurry of phonecalls to Ducati UK resulted in an 1198S being ridden from the Silverstone headquarters of the firm into the back of the pits. Rossi was then straight out on the bike which still had a numberplate, mirrors and road-legal Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa tyres.

MCN has got the full story behind the test from MotoGP reporter Matthew Birt who was at the test."

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2011/May/may1711-rossi-breaks-race-superbike-road-ducati-1198-silverstone/

thought · May 17, 2011, 05:11:02 PM

i like the way they made it seem like a huge rush... but then still had time to put the 46 on the front of the bike. haha

derby · May 17, 2011, 05:12:42 PM

fyi, we have an entire forum dedicated to racing (and track days):

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=7.0

DucatiTorrey · May 17, 2011, 05:13:18 PM

i know. figured it would get more views here.

the 46 bike is the race bike

Slide Panda · May 17, 2011, 06:09:22 PM

Quote from: DucatiTorrey on May 17, 2011, 05:13:18 PM
the 46 bike is the race bike

yes, look more closely. The first photo - no mirrors, turn signals or tag. Photos 2 and 3, mirrors, blinkers and a tag. They didn't stick a 46 on that street bike.

flare_late · May 17, 2011, 06:29:12 PM

The pricetag on that bike just went up a few pounds.

fastwin · May 18, 2011, 07:39:32 AM

Quote from: Sad Panda on May 17, 2011, 06:09:22 PM
yes, look more closely. The first photo - no mirrors, turn signals or tag. Photos 2 and 3, mirrors, blinkers and a tag. They didn't stick a 46 on that street bike.

I'm thinking conspiracy. More "grassy knoll" shenanigans!

zooom · May 18, 2011, 08:20:42 AM

Quote from: fastwin on May 18, 2011, 07:39:32 AM
I'm thinking conspiracy. More "grassy knoll" shenanigans!

shush you....mind not the man behind the curtain!

atomic410 · May 18, 2011, 10:17:23 AM

well its pretty common for race teams to show up with just one bike

triangleforge · May 18, 2011, 04:13:20 PM

Quote from: fastwin on May 18, 2011, 07:39:32 AM
I'm thinking conspiracy. More "grassy knoll" shenanigans!

1198 indeed. In all the hurry and fuss, did anyone check under the plastic & street trim to make sure there wasn't a GP-12 prototype under there for a little illicit extra testing, hmmmm???

DucatiTorrey · May 18, 2011, 04:38:44 PM

Quote from: triangleforge on May 18, 2011, 04:13:20 PM
1198 indeed. In all the hurry and fuss, did anyone check under the plastic & street trim to make sure there wasn't a GP-12 prototype under there for a little illicit extra testing, hmmmm???

oooh

"that sure is a LOUD 1198"

tigre · May 20, 2011, 12:41:29 AM

Broken 1198?

Sounds familiar...

J5 · May 20, 2011, 12:49:59 AM

Quote from: tigre on May 20, 2011, 12:41:29 AM
Broken 1198?

Sounds familiar...

LMAO

DucatiTorrey · May 20, 2011, 04:56:02 AM

the 1198 isn't the one that broke. did anyone read this?

mattc7 · May 20, 2011, 06:01:15 AM

why didn't they put the 1198 sbk's wheels on to the stocker? Slicks are slicks, and it would have been a pretty quick swap

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Rossi Breaks Race Bike, Takes Stock 1198 Out On Silverstone