Ducati unveils new GP15 machine in online presentation

The Ducati Team launched its all-new GP15 machine this morning at the Ducati Auditorium in Borgo Panigale, Italy that saw teammates Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone joining with Ducati Corse General Manager and GP15 designer Gigi Dall’Igna to uncover the much-anticipated machine.

Originally planned for the first winter test of 2015 in Sepang last month, the eagerly anticipated machine has already sparked worldwide conversations on what is under the bodywork that Dall’Igna has introduced or changed to turn the bike into a championship winning machine like the glory days of 2007 when Casey Stoner guided the ‘bologna bullet’ to MotoGP glory.

The machine has become infamous for it’s vague front end field and understeer problems despite multiple chassis modifications and not even seven times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi could get to grips with the machine during his two disastrous years with the Italian marque.

Starting with Ducati last year, Dall’Igna was brought on-board primarily to manage the Ducati MotoGP project but also to find solutions to the ongoing issues with underperforming machinery. His first changes came with the GP14.2 and further changes with the GP14.3 that was used at Sepang a few weeks ago with both Dovizioso and Iannone impressing with their pace, albeit on the soft Bridgestone rubber.

While no detailed information is yet available on the new machine, it is believed that Dall’Igna has stuck with the traditional Ducati 90 degree Desmodromic valve engine but all else could be completely changed and with Ducati effectively racing in the Open class they were able to work on their engine development last year whereas the other factory teams were not permitted to do this.