The Ducati MotoGP riders surprise customers at a Shell filling station
The countdown to the much-anticipated new MotoGP season got underway this weekend in Jerez, when the bikes got out on track for the final pre-season MotoGP test. All of the MotoGP teams gathered at the Andalucian circuit and Ducati Corse riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden made a ´pit-stop´ in Madrid, stopping off at a Shell filling station in the Spanish capital en route to their final testing session before the beginning of the season.
Stoner and Hayden were on-hand in Madrid for a photocall, which was made all the more special for two Ducati fans who were able to meet the 2006 and 2007 World Champions when they arrived to refuel their bikes. The whole day was captured on an exclusive video which shows Nicky Hayden turning pump attendant, filling up the bike of one of the Ducati fans with Shell V-Power road fuel, the road-going equivalent of the Shell V-Power race fuel which powers the Ducati bikes in MotoGP.
Over the course of the strong ten-year technical partnership between Shell and Ducati, the formulation of Shell V-Power race fuel has constantly been developed. The knowledge gained from developing fuels for racing these high revving, ultra-powerful engines contributes to the development of Shell V-Power for the road, which is a vital part of Shells research and development process.
I don´t know whether to pay or not I should be pumping fuel for them, commented Francisco Lopez, one of the local riders who was more than a little surprised to see the 2006 MotoGP Champion ready and waiting to re-fuel his bike. Jose Antonio Perez was another customer who was completely astonished to find Nicky ready and waiting to fill up his bike.
Hayden joked, "It´s part of my new contract I have to work 20 days for Shell and this is my first day! before saying, Seriously, its great to meet fans on a day like this. I hope everything goes well in Jerez as I feel good at Ducati and the GP9 feels better every time I ride it.
Casey Stoner, who enjoyed the event alongside his new team mate, was very optimistic ahead of the forthcoming test. Im really looking forward to the test in Jerez and I believe we can be a lot more consistent for the next season with the Ducati and the Shell package we have at the moment. Everything technically is working very well, very consistently.
Shell Motorsport