Racing a Ducati in WSB is nothing new to Noriyuki Haga.

He started racing Ducatis in Japan before he even came to Europe, and in 2004 he posted several wins on a privateer Ducati 999 machine, before heading back to Yamaha.

The recent acquisition of his services by the factory Ducati Xerox team started off dramatically enough, with three falls on day one, but at the end of the test, and despite not having his favoured 'old-fashioned' oil-and-air front forks to use yet, he went third quickest, fully competitive in his first test.

Bizarrely and uniquely among his peers, Haga does not like to use the tried and tested gas charged front forks that Öhlins have supplied to their factory and customer riders for a few years now. He simply prefers to have the maximum feedback from the front, and feels he gets that more from the old forks than the new ones. A unique riding talent with a unique approach, that's for sure.

And going by the results of his first factory Ducati test, The Samurai of Slide is set for another good season.

© CAPSIS International