Only a few days after the Ducati team took to the Mugello track for the TIM Italian Grand Prix they were back at the circuit in Florence to complete a 2 day test ahead of the Catalan Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya this week. The Mugello track had been kind to Ducati. In the Italian Moto GP leg, Nicky Hayden finished an impressive 6th while teammate Andrea Dovizioso went one better and came in fifth. Indeed, even test rider Michele Pirro who was a wildcard entry for the race recovered from starting out in 10th place to finish 7th in the event. There is a heightened anticipation around the Catalan Grand Prix for Ducati after their successful showing in Italy. While improvement is certainly on the agenda for this season results have been going that way and for Hayden and Dovizioso especially there is quite a lot of hype over the rest of the Moto GP season and a podium finish is surely not out of the question. That being said, there is still a way to go for the Ducati riders before they embark on the Catalan circuit. Ducati will be up against tough competition in Catalan Grand Prix this weekend. Jorge Lorenzo who won at Mugello and has been impressive for Yamaha this season is already targeting another victory in Catalonia and, with several Spaniards including Honda's Dani Predosa taking to the Montmelo circuit, there will be a lot of competition for the Italian outfit to deal with. Pirro, who was a wildcard entry for the Mugello leg, will be racing with the Pramac Ducati team in Spain. He will take over from Tennessee born Ben Spies who dropped out of Mugello and is expected to miss a large part of this season as he is still suffering from injuries sustained at Sepang, Malaysia last year. Ducati still have a long way to go to reclaim their former glory however with impressive finished so far this season the event in Catalonia represents another stepping stone on the route back to victory.
