Melandri frustrated to fall back again

The Italian has struggled since joining the factory Ducati team for this season, but a new set-up adopted for the Shanghai race a fortnight ago allowed him to charge through to fifth in the race.

However he only managed 17th on the grid at Le Mans today, two seconds slower than teammate Casey Stoner, having found that the riding style required for the twisty French track did not suit the set-up he adopted for China.

"Unfortunately here at Le Mans we've been unable to progress as we'd hoped because the layout of this track highlights the weak points in the set-up of my bike," Melandri explained.

"In China, where the majority of braking is done with the bike upright, we found a satisfactory setting but here, where you have to tip the bike in under braking, I can't get any feel for the rear and I can't go fast. I'm having to go in early and that is making the corners longer."

He is not optimistic about his chances of improving in the race.

"Unfortunately I think it's going to be a tough race for us tomorrow," Melandri said.