Lorenzo encouraged by Ducati's private Jerez test

Lorenzo and Dovizioso lapped Jerez last Wednesday, following a day of running for test rider Michele Pirro, ahead of the first European round of 2017 at the track next month.

After struggling on his way to 11th in his Ducati debut in Qatar, Lorenzo said while the extra running offered no major breakthroughs, he believes findings will help further down the line.

“Ducati is very professional, they analysed everything and have a lot of information, everything during the weekend and during the [Qatar] race,” he said. “And also myself, I tried to study what I had to do.

“Step by little step, we are trying to improve little by little. We tried some new pieces on the bike that probably give us two riders more speed in the future.

“It was a positive day, and we are getting closer and closer to the pace.”

The low-grip Spanish Grand Prix venue is one where Ducati has struggled in recent years.

Having also suffered in cooler conditions when the grip levels have dropped, including in Qatar, Lorenzo said both parties could make gains in that area.

“It’s not a question of only myself,” he said. “Ducatis in general, when there is grip, the bike is working better than when there is not.

“We have to create a bike that can work in all of the conditions, we are trying.”

Dovizioso finished second in the Qatar season opener to Lorenzo’s Yamaha replacement, Maverick Vinales, and agreed that Ducati had a positive test, but was cautious about reading too much into it.

“It was important for us to try on that track, in the last few years we struggled a lot at Jerez,” he said. 

“It was interesting, difficult to say it was a good test because it was only me and Jorge on the track. 

“The lap time was quite good, we tried something interesting, now at a different track, we want to continue to fight for the podium.”

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont