The new Ducati Desmosedici GP12 is powered by four-stroke 1000 ccm engine with four cylinders and power of 250HP, which allows maximum speed of 360 km per hour as per the new press release from Cardion AB.
The GP12 has a deltabox aluminium frame. “At first glance it may appear that the bike is similar to the last year’s model, but under the fairing is a series of significant changes,” says crew chief of Cardion AB Motoracing Marco Grana, who spent two weeks in Bologna with his colleagues from the Czech team. Externals have been slightly modified, but the design is still based on a combination of blue and white colours Most of the components on the new bike are from the same manufacturer as last year. Suspension of Abraham’s bike is provided by Öhlins while the brakes are from Brembo. All teams from the premier class use Bridgestone tyres.
“I tried the new bike during the post-season test in Valencia, but the first real test will be held at Sepang in Malaysia at the end of January. We need to be well prepared for the first test because we want to try a lot of things. We also must work on the set-up of the bike because the 2012 MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar on April 8th,” added Karel Abraham.
According to the provisional entry list for the 2012 MotoGP World Championship, the Cardion AB Motoracing rider will compete against eleven bikes from Ducati, Honda and Yamaha. Other nine positions on the grid will be filled by CRT teams using bikes based on serial machines. Between many rookies are also Abraham’s old friends from the Moto2 class, for example reigning Moto2 world champion Stefan Bradl.
“Thanks to the increased number of riders, the MotoGP will be more attractive for spectators and for us. It’s great that I will ride against my old rivals and friends, but I’m concetrating on my goal — be on the front positions as much as possible, regardless the factory machines or a CRT bikes.”
The name is derived from atypical engine valve system, so-called desmodromic (valves are opened and closed by camshaft). Sedici is “sixteen” in Italian and indicates the number of valves in the engine.
Comparison of Ducati Desmosedici GP12 and GP11
| Ducati Desmosedici GP12 | Ducati Desmosedici GP11 |
| Weight: dry 155 kg | Weight: dry 150 kg |
| Max. speed: >360 km/h | Max. speed: >340 km/h |
| From 0 to 100 km/h: 2,6 s | From 0 to 100 km/h: 2,7 s |
| Power: 250 HP | Power: 235 HP |
Technical data of Ducati Desmosedici GP12
| Engine | |
| Water-cooled four-stroke engine with four cylinders and four valves per cylinder which are controlled by desmodromic valve system. The cylinders are formed in an angle of 90 degrees. | |
| Capacity: | 999 ccm |
| Electronics: | Magneti Marelli |
| Gearbox | |
| Six-speed, with the possibility to adjust the ratio of degrees. | |
| Clutch: | Dry, multi-plate |
| Chain: | Regina |
| Chassis | |
| Ducati aluminium frame | |
| Fronf fork: | Öhlins with a diameter of 48 mm |
| Rear suspension: | Öhlins |
| Brakes: | front four-piston Brembo calipers, 2x disc Brembo with a diameter of 320 mm, rear two-piston Brembo caliper, Brembo steel disc |
| Wheel size: | 16,5″ magnesium Marchesini |
| Tyres: | Bridgestone |
| Fuel tank: | 21 litres |
