Marco Simoncelli on his first day of testing at the Mugello with the Aprilia RSV4 lapped at 1′54,21, an excellent time considering that this is second outing on the superbike and that Xerox Ducati’s Michel Fabrizio who was present at Mugello, lapped more or less in the same times, while Mattia Pasini testing the Ducati GP09 did a best lap of 1.
52.
8.
According to Italian sources, Simoncelli used standard racing tires and did a series of ten runs for a total of 49 and was not looking to break records, but to gain confidence with the RSV4, since his debut test at Valencia last November, as the Aprilia that has undergone several development upgrades in these months.
Simoncelli will return to track tomorrow and at the end of tomorrow’s test will decide whether to race or not at Imola on Sunday, if he should refuse the job, Aprilia has their test rider Alex Hofmann already lined up, but Gigi Dall’Igna, Aprilia’s race engineer is certain that Simoncelli will accept the challenge.
The Italian rider wanted to race the Aprilia at the first two rounds of WSBK Championship at Phillip Isalnd and Valencia, but Aprilia was unable to provide a third bike for him.
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