Axel Bassani completes weather-affected Vallelunga WorldSBK test

Axel Bassani has completed a private three-day test at Vallelunga aboard road and WorldSBK versions of the Panigale V4 R. 

One of two standout WorldSBK rookies in 2021 - the other being Pata Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli - the Motocorsa Ducati rider was taking part in his second on-track action of the year following another private test with MotoGP stars Marc and Alex Marquez in January (Portimao). 

Bassani’s best result last season was a second place finish as he battled world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and new BMW rider Scott Redding for victory in Catalunya. 

The young Italian is yet to take part in a pre-season test with his fellow WorldSBK riders, however, that will change during this month’s Misano outing (16-17) as he’s set to join Aruba.it Ducati riders Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi, Luca Bernardi, Philipp Oettl, Lucas Mahias, Christophe Ponsson and all four of BMW’s riders - includes Redding, Michael Van Der Mark, Loris Baz and Eugene Laverty. 

As for the three-day Vallelunga test, Bassani used the first day to ride a standard road-spec Panigale V4 R, before switching to his WorldSBK version for Sunday and Monday’s running. 

However, as can be the case during the early part of the year, bad weather played a role in Bassani’s limited progress. 

Having also tested a standard road bike during his Portimao outing, the final two days of testing at the Rome-based circuit were Bassani’s first action on WorldSBK machinery this year. 

Although no date has been revealed thus far, Bassani and Motocorsa Ducati are expected to showcase their 2022 livery this month, as is the case for all Ducati riders. 

The next WorldSBK test to take place is later this week as GRT Yamaha riders Garrett Gerloff and Kohta Nozane will get their official testing season underway alongside Razgatlioglu, Locatelli and Ponsson.