Itoh to make Ducati tyre test debut

Shinichi Itoh will make his debut with Ducati on Thursday in the first test for a new team set up specifically by the Italian factory to carry out Bridgestone tyre tests.

The Japanese veteran, who has spent the majority of his career in both a testing and racing capacity for Honda, will link up for the first time with Troy Bayliss's former race engineer Luca Gasbarro, who himself starts a new role of track technical director in charge of the Bridgestone/Ducati MotoGP project.

Itoh will be using a 2004 version Desmosedici for the test but is scheduled to begin work on the GP5 at the official tests in Barcelona in March, his next scheduled appearance. The structure will flank the Ducati Corse Development Team with Vittoriano Guareschi, which will be testing at Jerez on February 24-25.

Carlos Checa will also start testing tomorrow, one day earlier than Ducati Marlboro team-mate Loris Capirossi, having been sidelined with flu at the last Sepang test in January. The Spaniard will be joined by Capirossi on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when both riders will have two Desmosedici GP5 machines at their disposal.