Wayne Gardner tips Ducati to surprise in 2016 MotoGP season

Ducati last won a race with Casey Stoner in Australia in October 2010, and went four years without a pole position until Andrea Dovizioso topped qualifying in Japan in '14.

Dovizioso and team-mate Andrea Iannone claimed one pole position each last year, with Dovizioso taking five podiums and Iannone three.

Gardner feels the pair could take the next step this year, to challenge Yamaha and Honda riders on a more-regular basis.

"It'll be interesting to see, you're still going to get the top three or four guys, but I'm expecting a few surprises from Ducati," Gardner told Autosport.

"I know Ducati has a new chassis and new bike, a smaller engine.

"They are starting to make progress, and they have some good riders right now, really good riders.

"And this could be the year they shine."

Ducati started 2015 with dispensation to use 24 litres of fuel in each race compared to the leading works teams' 22, and the scope to use softer tyres.

It lost the increased fuel allowance during the season as its form improved, while it will work with the same tyre compounds this year.

Gardner says those changes will not necessarily outweigh the Italian manufacturer's potential.

"They're going to have to step up to work within that framework and I think it could be good for them, to move that next step up," he added.

"They're well-funded, well-budgeted, have clever people at the Volkswagen Audi Group, and should be very competitive pretty soon."