According to French publication Moto Journal, the 'all new' version of🌄 the Ducati GP12 MotoGP machine includes a narrower V-angle for the engine.

Traditionally, Ducati has used a 90-degree V, but is said to have opted for a narrower angle - as used by Honda - to help solve its front-end issues. A narrower V would mean a more compact engine and therefore more packaging opportu🍌nities.

If confirmed, it would mean that Ducati has radically redesigned not o🌊nly the chassis (carbon fibre to aluminium twin-spar) but also its engine - for which 'balancing' becomes more complex when the V is not 9𒁏0-degrees.

Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden are due to ride the new GP12 for the first time, during the start of 2012 t⛄esting at Sepang today (Tuesday).

Yamaha uses an inline configuration, while all MotoGP engines have had four-cylinde🧔rs since the start of the 800cc era in 2007. 2012 is the first year of the new 1000cc rules.