Stoner to make Ducati MotoGP test outing in Barcelona

Ducati has scheduled tests at Mugello and Barcelona for either side of this month's Le Mans race, which takes place on May 21.

Race riders Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso will run at Mugello next Monday, while tester Michele Pirro will complete a three-day programme from the Monday to Wednesday at the Italian track.

Stoner will attend that weekend’s MotoGP round at Le Mans, then move onto Barcelona for a two-day test on May 23-24.

Lorenzo and Dovizioso will dip further into their allocation of five private test days, having also tested at Jerez after the Qatar season opener, joining Stoner on track both days.

This will leave both men with only one private test day to use until the end of the 2017 campaign.

Having rejoined Ducati last year as a test rider, Stoner has only appeared once so far in 2017, before and during the first pre-season test at Sepang, topping the first day of official running in January.

The Italian and Catalunya Grands Prix will be held on June 2-4 and 9-11.

“Normally that test before the race is important to prepare for the race,” Dovizioso said of the Mugello running. “But I don’t know if we will have something [new to test].”