Dovizioso and Iannone to debut Ducati's 'evolution' bike at Aragon
Factory rider Andrea Dovizioso and Pramac's Andrea Iannone will give Ducati's 'evolution' MotoGP bike its debut in this weekend's Aragon Grand Prix
Designated the GP14.2, the revised bike is the biggest step so far in Ducati's rebuilding effort, as it works to get back to the front of the MotoGP pack after a win drought now approaching four years.
The new bike ran for the first time in a shakedown test with Dovizioso and Iannone at Mugello on Tuesday.
Satellite rider Iannone, who has been receiving increasing amounts of works assistance through 2014, gets the second evolution bike rather than Dovizioso's current team-mate Cal Crutchlow, as the Italian is moving up to the factory team next year, when Crutchlow leaves for LCR Honda.
Ducati is currently engaged in a lengthy recovery process under new owner Audi and new team boss Gigi Dall'Igna, who joined from Aprilia this season.
The team last won a MotoGP race at Philip Island with Casey Stoner in late 2010, but has gained ground this year, with Dovizioso qualifying on the front row four times and taking two podium finishes, and Iannone twice starting second.
"We are now becoming a more competitive reality and I am very happy with our progress," said Dovizioso.
Ducati controversially chose to run under Open regulations for 2014, meaning it had to use control electronics, but giving it more freedom for engine development, among other rules breaks.
It will also increase its presence on the grid to six bikes in 2015, having agreed to supply the Avintia team as a second customer alongside Pramac.
Avintia has so far run FTR-Kawasaki-based CRT/Open machinery in its three years at the top level.
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