The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad has ended this week’s three-day test at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The gathering ran from Monday to Wednesday, with 2017 WorldSBK returnee Marco Melandri enjoying his first taste of the World Superbike-spec Ducati 1199 Panigale R as he ran for the full three days.

The plan was for 2016 riders Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano to share the track with Melandri on the first two days, although the Welshman was limited to just 45 minutes and a total of 14 laps on Monday when he was hit by back pain. Following a scan, this has now been confirmed as a muscle strain. The man currently third in the Riders’ Championship now intends to rest up ahead of the Lausitzring races, but in a change of plan was pleased to have returned to the track on Wednesday.

“I have been doing some pretty intense upper-body training this summer and that has definitely not helped, but it’s not just the training but the lack of a massage and some chiro work to loosen it off again,” Davies explained of his muscle strain. “However, from the running we have done here I feel very optimistic for the rest of the season. I have often felt at only 95% with the bike this year, but now I think we understand why. We have found something important.”

The test was one of the last for Giugliano before the Italian departs the team at the end of the year, replaced by compatriot Melandri who is making small strides with the bike.

“It was important to step back on the Panigale R during the summer break, even though I’ve been training full-time,” Giugliano explains. “Misano has something in common with the Lausitzring track, so we tried to optimise our setup ahead of the next race. I have a really good feeling on the bike; at the last four rounds we have managed to make strides and always step on the podium. We’re ready to tackle the next races and confident to be able to collect even better results.” 

“It has been exciting – as if it was the first time again!” says 19-time WorldSBK race winner Melandri, in an interview which will be available in its entirety this Thursday on WorldSBK.com. “When you are doing something you like – motorcycle racing, in my case – and you have to stop, it helps you to better understand how much you miss it and why you liked it in the first place. I have enjoyed this return to riding in a special way. The Panigale is a great discovery for me. I was always pretty sure that this bike could be good for my riding style; of course some people were very skeptical about it but, even though it is still quite early on, I am happy.”

The next race action for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship comes from Germany’s Lausitzring on the weekend of 16-18 September. This will mark the first German Round since 2013 and the first WorldSBK visit to the Lausitzring since 2007.