Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden are reunited for Ducati's 2011 MotoGP assault.

Ducati has unveiled what Valentino Rossi’s Ducati Desmosedici GP11 will look like when he contests the 2011 MotoGP World Championship this season.

The spectacular scenery of the Trento Dolomites served as the background for the first official photos of the Desmosedici GP11 in its new livery, including both Rossi and new teammate Nicky Hayden’s bikes.

Featuring an entirely new paint scheme including a new shade of red – Rossi’s splashed in his famous yellow highlights – the 2011 model Ducati has undergone much more than a simple paint job.

“The bike we see here at Madonna di Campiglio is the GP11 ‘step 0,’ as it represents the initial level from which we plan to evolve,” Ducati Corse general director Filippo Preziosi commented.

“The principal characteristics are the evolution of the motor and of the throttle body thought to obtain, fundamentally, a flatter and more useable power curve.

“As for the chassis, the aerodynamics are completely new, with the goal of improving top speed, reducing consumption, and also reducing front lift as much as possible.

“Other aspects we’re working on for the Malaysia tests in February are the new frame, which has already undergone various tests of rigidity and flex – for torsion and under braking – a swingarm with different rigidity characteristics, and a fork that combines the 2011 hydraulics with the 42mm tubes, instead of 48.

“As for the electronics, we’re working on wheelie control and traction control. These are all solutions that we’ll try out next week at Jerez with three days of testing and two development teams – one for Franco Battaini and one for Vittoriano Guareschi – and that Valentino and Nicky will then try in Malaysia.

“We know that Valentino isn’t at 100 percent and Sepang is a very ‘physical’ track, so we’ll try to optimise his sessions and to use his time on the track in a ‘surgical’ way in order to have his feedback.

“Many tests will also be entrusted to Nicky Hayden, who will be able to ride normally. We’re working hard, but the atmosphere at Ducati is really nice, very electric and positive, and we can’t wait to get back on the track.”

Speaking of having Rossi in the team, Preziosi admitted he is having a great impact on the Ducati effort already in these early stages.

“The thing that struck me the most about Vale is his great ability to create a positive climate around himself,” Prezioso added.

“On the other hand, one thing that I’d heard about him but that I found to be even more true than I expected was his ability to analyse details in the bike’s behavior and to describe them in an incredibly precise way.

“It’s very valuable because the rider is gives us considerable information that we wouldn’t otherwise have. The quality of this information will make a big difference.”

The team will commence testing at the beginning of February in Malaysia.

Click here to check out over 20 images from the launch