UPDATE: Nope, according to Italian TV’s Gudio Meda, it is a model built from leftover parts of the GP3 & GP7. For those picking out those design elements, good eye!
While the official launch of the Ducati Desmosedici GP13 is supposed to be tomorrow, the folks at GPinside have seemingly snagged this photo of the GP13 at the 2013 Wrooom event that Ducati co-hosts with Scuderia Ferrari. While the livery appears relative unchanged, there are several noticeable changes to the Desmosedici GP13, namely the skinnier tail section.
Our eyes also spot changes to the exhaust system, with a much shorter side-pipe, and what appears to be a larger undertail cannister. The fairings have also been refined from their previous shape, and give away a figure that’s longer than the GP12 (shown after the jump), with noticeably fewer side vents.
The GP13 is expected to continue development of the twin-spar aluminum frame in Ducati Corse’s GP program, though rumors have pegged that the fabrication duties have moved from FTR to another chassis manufacturer for the 2013 season.
The workspace for Nicky Hayden, Andrea Dovizioso, Ben Spies, and Andrea Iannone, the GP13 will be developed with the input of four riders who have a divergent range of riding styles amongst them.
Ducati’s main hope is that the GP13, and later the GP14, will be a race bike that will be more approachable to riders in MotoGP, and a convincing option to teams and riders who had previously only considered the work of Honda and Yamaha.
Check for the official pictures and specs tomorrow.
Source: GPinside
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