Jorge Lorenzo is not 'wild' enough to master Ducati – Capirossi

Lorenzo has endured a tough first three races for Ducati since switching from Yamaha over the winter, with his ninth-place finish last weekend at Austin being his best result so far.

The Spaniard has admitted that adapting his riding style has taken him longer than he initially anticipated, and revealed in Argentina that a problem with his seating position had led to him "throwing away" his pre-season.

Capirossi was one of Ducati's maiden MotoGP riders in 2003, and became its first race winner that year, winning seven races over five years.

He says Lorenzo's trademark smooth style is incompatible with the Desmosedici bike's need for a "wild" rider to unlock its potential.

"In my opinion, Lorenzo undoubtedly expected to find a different Ducati," Capirossi told Italy's Radio 24.

"The Ducati is a competitive bike, which has its strong points and weak points. In recent years we have seen them being competitive on some tracks and not on others.

"On the tracks where the Ducati suffers, you have to ride it with a certain wickedness, and Lorenzo doesn't have this wickedness.

"Lorenzo is a very fast rider, a very clean rider, but the Ducati needs a wild rider. [Andrea] Dovizioso is partly wild, but Lorenzo is not."

ROSSI NEEDS TO AVOID 2016 ERRORS

Capirossi (pictured above in action for Ducati in 2007) also believes his compatriot and former rival Valentino Rossi, who leads the standings after three podium finishes in the first three races of 2017, can fight for his eighth premier class title.

That is as long he avoids a repeat of the errors he made last year, which included Austin and Assen falls and a misjudged strategy at the Sachsenring.

"This year [Rossi] probably lacks a bit of speed to really get himself in the fight between [Marc] Marquez and [Maverick] Vinales," said Capirossi.

"But on some occasions he will be there together with them to fight for the win, he will be able to win some races.

"What's important is that he doesn't make the errors he made last year.

"He must be consistent and finish all the races, and then we'll see how many points he has at the end of the year."