Whilst most riders are in the colder parts of the world to ski, train and enjoy the break before the 2016 MotoGP season begins, the Avintia Racing Team are in Andorra to unveil their new bike.
Twitter: RT @grandvalira: Gracias @AvintiaRacing_ por elegir #Grandvalira para la presentación oficial ’16 @rxandmove @HectorBarbera @lorisbaz https… (@HectorBarbera)
In the heart of the Pyrenees, the Avintia Racing Team are presenting the two Ducati 14.2s that will be piloted this year in the MotoGP class by Spanish rider Hector Barbera and French rider Loris Baz. The pistes of Grandvalira, Andorra are providing an incredible backdrop during the presentation which will take place over the next three days.
The unveiling of the 2016 livery is coming just less than a week before the final official testing in Qatar on March 2nd. So far the two Ducati riders have managed to finish top six fastest in Phillip Island. Hector Barbera finished fourth fastest, and Loris Baz finished sixth with a time of 1’29.583; just under half a second of Marc Marquez who was fastest on the day.
It has already been quite an eventful year for 6ft2in Baz who dramatically crashed off his custom made Ducati at 290km/h due to his rear Michelin soft tyre failing in a big way.
Twitter: The hills are alive with the sound of…
@lorisbaz and the @AvintiaRacing_ Ducati.
#MotoGP https://t.co/EPTnhao8A5 (@MotoGP)
In order for the unveiling to take place in Andorra, Michelin had another modification to make to their tyres for the Avintia Racing Team. As skiers went about their business on the pistes, they may have been wondering what the strange sound was echoing through the mountains as the Ducatis were ridden onto the stage wearing extremely custom Michelin snow tyres. Let’s hope the riders made sure they wore their thermals under the leathers!
Twitter: Calentando motores para la presentación del equipo #AndoRRacing #AvintiaRacing #Andorra #forzaducati https://t.co/dt619XWmrJ (@AvintiaRacing_)
