The last day of Sepang test proved to be a good one for Ducati not only because the top 4 positions in the lap time sheet were occupied by the Desmosedici bikes but also because Ducati tested its new fairing.
The new fairing design is slightly different from the old one. It has got 3 small wing sections on each side. The old fairing had one upper wing and a side ‘box’.
Ducati riders, Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci, had the new fairings bolted on their bikes. Unfortunately, Petrucci crashed on lap 5 with the new fairing on.
Ducati’s plan was to test the new fairing at the final post-season official test in Qatar. However, it preponed it to the last day of the Sepang test. This could’ve been done perhaps to gather some more necessary and crucial data.
As per the new rules that are implemented from this the 2019 MotoGP season onward, the use of modular systems in fairing designs in restricted however some parts could be removed. Also, teams are allowed to have only one fairing update in the entire season.
The last official test is scheduled on 23-25 Feb in Qatar. Ducati is most likely to do more tests of its new fairing so that it can make a decision whether to use it in the races or not.
