Ducati's gains with new bike 'not enough'

While the Italian manufacturer won its first races since 2010 last year, Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone lamented difficulties in getting its '16 Desmosedici turned.

That has been the focus of the 2017 bike, but Dovizioso and new team-mate Jorge Lorenzo could not match the pace set by Yamaha's Maverick Vinales and Honda's Marc Marquez in last week's Phillip Island test.

Dovizioso finished the three days "not completely satisfied" in seventh place, 0.699 seconds behind Vinales and one spot ahead of Lorenzo.

"If you look at the test and make a comparison with last year, we are in a much better situation," said Dovizioso.

"I was competitive in Malaysia, I was competitive [at Phillip Island], and this is one of my worst tracks.

"We have improved a little bit from last year. We are quite fast.

"But in another side, still we didn't improve enough the negative points.

"So I'm not happy if I look at the championship to be competitive at every track.

"We did a great job, but it's not enough."

Asked if Ducati had further updates planned for the final pre-season test in Qatar next month, he replied: "In Qatar it's difficult to have new material.

"It's not possible to bring something in two weeks.

"We have to understand what we have to do to try to improve the turning."

Dovizioso believes improvements in turning the bike could transform Ducati's fortunes, as it chases a first title since Casey Stoner's 2007 championship success.

"When you are in the race, the grip is less for everybody and the turning makes a big effect," he said.

"We can be very strong in a lot of areas, but if the turning is worse than the competitor, with the level we are now with the bikes and riders, it's difficult to say.

"That's why I say if we touch that point, everything can change."