MOTOGP: Crutchlow says 2014 Ducati not much better

Ducati's new MotoGP signing Cal Crutchlow admits that the team's 2014 bike is unlikely to be much better than its '13 machine at first.

Crutchlow has joined Ducati this season after two years at Tech 3 Yamaha.

Ducati last won a MotoGP race with Casey Stoner at Phillip Island in October 2010, and last put a rider on the podium when Valentino Rossi finished second at Misano in September '12.

A Ducati statement said that this year's Desmosedici GP14 featured "revised aerodynamics, both in the front and rear fairings, in addition to improved rider ergonomics and more possibilities for chassis adjustment, as well as several new electronic solutions" compared to last year's GP13. But Crutchlow said few changes were evident on track after the first day of 2014 testing at Sepang on Tuesday.

"We rode the GP13 in the morning and the GP14 in the afternoon, and it's clear we have some work to do because the bikes are not too dissimilar at all," he said. "Most of the changes are cosmetic, but the feeling of the bikes is similar. The GP14 enters the corner a bit better, which is what we were looking for."

None of the factory Ducatis made it into the top 10, with Crutchlow behind teammate Andrea Dovizioso and test rider Michele Pirro as they filled 12th to 14th places. The Briton played down the positions, though, saying outright lap times had not been a focus.

"We only used two sets of tires all day so now it's about building confidence to go faster with this bike," said Crutchlow. "We also had a lot of electronics stuff to try so I never did too many runs in the afternoon."