However, despite the vagueness of Rossi's pronouncements, it is almost certain that Rossi is today testing the aluminium twin spar chassis which has been built for Ducati by a Moto2 chassis supplier. That chassis was completed some time last week, MotoMatters.com has learned, and is now in the hands of Ducati's technicians. The aim of the test will be to evaluate whether the twin spar chassis provides a clear benefit for Rossi's more precise corner style over the carbon fiber subframe currently being employed. If the chassis shows potential - the chassis has almost certainly been designed internally by Ducati, with only the production having been farmed out to an external party - then work will begin in earnest on preparing the chassis for the first public test of all of the 2012 MotoGP bikes, directly after the final round of 2011 at Valencia.
Rossi fans hoping for an earlier appearance of the aluminium chassis will be disappointed: a twin spar chassis requires completely different engine mounting points to the current subframe being used, and modifying engine casings would mean that Rossi would need to take 2 new engines. As the Italian has already started ot use his 6th engine at Misano, that would mean starting races from pit lane twice, an unacceptably high cost for the R&D it would provide. Rossi's insistence at Misano that the parts to be tested were for 2012 would seem to substantiate this supposition.

Date, Grand Prix - Circuit
15 April, Qatar* - Doha/Losail
29 April, Spain (STC) - Jerez de la Frontera
6 May, Portugal (STC) - Estoril
20 May, France - Le Mans
3 June, Catalunya - Catalunya
17 June, Great Britain - Silverstone
30 June, Netherlands** - Assen
8 July, Germany (STC) - TBC
15 July, Italy - Mugello
29 July, United States*** - Laguna Seca
19 August, Indianapolis - Indianapolis
26 August, Czech Rep. - Brno
16 September, San Marino & Riviera di Rimini - Misano
30 September, Aragon - Motorland
14 October, Japan - Motegi
21 October, Malaysia - Sepang
28 October, Australia - Phillip Island
11 November, Valencia - Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

* Evening Race
** Saturday Race
*** Only MotoGP class
STC (Subject to the contract)
TBC (To be confirmed)