Ducati rule out racing GP9 this season

Ducati has denied it plans to race its new carbon fibre chassis GP9 machine later this season.

Factory boss Livio Suppo said the new bike, which reigning world champion Casey Stoner completed a successful debut on in Barcelona earlier this month.

The Aussie has already given Ducati the green light to proceed with development of the new bike for next season, but it is unlikely he could debut the radical bike later in the 2008 campaign.

If Stoner was mathematically out of contention for the title later in the season it was believe Ducati might get him to race the carbon fibre chassis to begin early preparations for 2009.

But Suppo said: “At the moment there is no plan to race this bike. The bike we have now is still very competitive with Casey. The new bike is a big step in terms of concept so it is better we double check.

“The frame is different. The engine is an evolution of this engine but Stoner goes into this weekend’s Dutch GP at Assen 45-points behind series leader Valentino Rossi after he dominated lasr weekend’s British GP at Donington Park.