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First of all, Tardozzi is on hand to dot the i's and cross the t's. The team manager didn't appreciate paddock rumours that Michelin had given the Ducati a preview of the new tyre, before everybody else, during the Mugello tests.
“We didn't have the 47 tyre that has been brought here - he underlines - But tyres with different carcasses and compounds, from among which they chose those for the new tyres".
New tyre or not, the two Andreas have put Jerez behind them, together with the ‘old’ tyre. The 'skating' problem, if not completely resolved, had been greatly reduced and the Desmosedici is back to what it once was.
“We started well and understood many things during the morning which served to help us improve in the afternoon - explains Iannone, having scored the 2nd best time - Some of the merit goes to Michelin, they reacted well after the problems of the last race and have brought us a more high-performing tyre”.
This doesn't mean the Maniac is surprised.
“We've simply met with expectation, getting back to the level that we'd lost - he confirms - Now we have to continue on this path and continue to improve in many areas. It's not as easy as it seems, but I have great faith in the people working with me”.
He too responds to the accusations of favouritism being shown by the French manufacturer.
“Michelin hasn't helped Ducati, but everyone, because everybody was complaining about the spinning. If they'd really only helped us, we'd be in front with a 4-tenth advantage but we're not - he said - I tried the new tyre and found it has better grip, both in acceleration and in braking, and through the corners. The problems haven't completely disappeared, but are reduced”.
But Dovizioso doesn't have clear ideas about the famous 47 tyre. He too tried them but there were issues.
“It has a little more grip and this caused problems at the front, it's normal because you need to adapt the set-up to the new characteristics - he says - Anyway, I think that tomorrow morning I'll work with the new tyre ahead of the race and we'll have more idea of our speed.”
Dovi doesn't want to talk about a 'rebirth' either.
“I couldn't fight for the podium at Jerez, but I wasn't in an abyss either - he underlines - Today we've started well and this has allowed us to work on details because we still have a margin both in terms of braking and corner entry”.
The aim is to close in on Lorenzo.
“He's the fastest, but there are still two sessions to go - he concludes - Today I made a few laps behind him and was able to keep close, I'm already consistent”.
