Just two days after the conclusion of the 2023 MotoGP season, the first official test of 2024 took place on 28 November.
Ducati’s factory riders Bastianini and Francesco Bagnaia got a taste of their 2024 bikes for the first time in Valencia, having both missed the Misano test in September due to injury.
Bastianini, who struggled for most of the 2023 season when he wasn’t injured to adapt to the GP23, particularly on corner-entry, says the 2024 bike is better in most areas including engine braking.
However, he notes corner-entry still needs to be improved even if it is better than the 2023 bike was in this area.
“The first impact with the 2024 bike was better from the start,” the Malaysian Grand Prix winner said after ending the test eighth fastest.
“Not a big difference compared to the ‘23 bike, but better. Also, we have worked well with the set-up, because this year it has been impossible for me to do something different on the bike.
“We have improved the turning. We need to improve a little bit more on [corner] entry. It’s one limit for the moment of this bike, but it’s better compared to the '23.
“In the middle of the corner [is better], but also for me we have improved the set-up.
Source: Autosport