Ducati now 'really close' to Honda and Yamaha in MotoGP - Iannone

Iannone and team-mate Andrea Dovizioso qualified fourth and sixth for the season opener in Qatar, but used the Ducati's noted engine power to move into first and second on lap two.

While Iannone crashed out of the race on lap six and Dovizioso was no match for Jorge Lorenzo, he could at least fight off Honda's Marc Marquez and secure second.

Dovizioso and Iannone finished second and fourth at Termas de Rio Hondo last year, and Iannone is expecting to feature at the front of the pack again.

"I think this year, especially, the engine improved one more time," he said.

"In Argentina, last year I fought at the top and I think also this year I have this potential, because I am really close with other manufacturers.

"We work in a good way, and sure I'll try another time to try to stay on the top."

Test rider Casey Stoner sampled Ducati's 2016 Desmosedici in Qatar after the season opener, classing it as "very different".

Dovizioso agreed that the manufacturer had made progress, given how it trailed off following a strong start to 2015.

"The reality is we have to remember how we finished the season and the feeling was not so good," he said.

"We did a great job I am so happy about that, step by step we improved the feeling during the tests.

"The bike is better, more balanced.

"Yes there are different rules so we have to wait for a different track to understand our potential.

"But I feel really good and what I saw in the [Qatar] race was really interesting.

"I understood a lot of important things to try and do in the next race."