MotoGP Test Valencia – Ricardo Tormo
Reale Avintia Racing riders Tito Rabat and Karel Abraham,completed the first test for 2019 with positive feelings at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia today.
The riders had to wait for dry conditions again, as the asphalt of the 4,005 m track was full of wet patches. But once the action started for Rabat and Abraham, the work of the team progressed consistently. Tito Rabat rode 59 laps with his new Ducati GP18 and finished the test 15th overall. He improved his best lap from the first day by almost one second and he left Valencia only 1.1s behind the fastest time.
His new teammate Karel Abraham continued to familiarise himself with the team and to adapt to his new Ducati GP18, a bike quite different from the one he rode until last Sunday. Abraham also improved his pace from the first day and wants to progress even more at the next two days of testing at Jerez.
Next week, Reale Avintia will continue the winter test program at the Angel Nieto Circuit in Jerez, at the second official MotoGP test for 2019 season.
“This was a positive test. We did a good job, we were calm and I used every lap to learn more about the new bike and some new staff members in my team. I’m very happy about this test and I’m in love with my Ducati GP18. The bike turns better and the power is incredible. Now we have to keep working in the same way at Jerez next week”.
“Today we did a lot of work and we were able to test many things on the bike, but we have more to do next week in Jerez, where we will double-check the set-up base that we established. We know the potential of the bike is much higher than our position in the time sheets today, so we have to work hard to get the best out of this machine. That’s why I’m not completely happy. But the first connection with the team is good and I’m sure we will improve during the winter test to get to the maximum before the season starts in Qatar”.
