LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow bemoaned a lack of turning during Friday's MotoGP practice at Sachsenring on his RC213V, and claims the Ducati is now “one of the best” in this area.
The Ducati is famed for its difficulty in cornering, and Sachsenring has long been one of the Italian marque's weakest venues, with only Casey Stoner winning on a Desmosedici at the German track back in 2008.
However, Ducati has made strides in this area in recent times, and after the Italian marque led Friday practice for the German Grand Prix – with Jorge Lorenzo heading Pramac's Danilo Petrucci – Crutchlow feels the Desmosedici is now the best bike on the grid in turning performance.
“We're not turning the bike very well at the moment with the Honda, and we're struggling for rear grip in this circuit,” Crutchlow, who was seven tenths down on Lorenzo in ninth on Friday, said.
“This circuit needs a bike that can turn well and the Ducati turns one of the best on the grid. So I fully expect the guys that are up there to be up there.
“At the moment we are struggling to turn the bike and find the rear grip. But tomorrow is another day and hopefully we can improve that tonight.
“As I said before, it's Friday the 13th and I don't really push on Friday 13th, I don't really like the number.
“But that's just an excuse really, I need to pull my finger out and go faster tomorrow.”
Dovizioso: Turning still isn't perfect
Andrea Dovizioso, who was fourth after Friday's running, admits Ducati is “a bit better than last year” at the Sachsenring, but feels the bike isn't “perfect” yet at turning, especially when the tyres begin to lose grip.
“I’m happy about today, it means our base is good like we expected yesterday; our bike is a bit better than last year so we’re able to start with a good base,” he said.
“But with our characteristics I don’t think what we did today is enough because the tyre consumption is strange and more than the past, it seems.
“So everyone has to work on the speed but more on the life of the rear tyre.
“We’re a bit better overall: turning, braking stability, but still turning isn’t perfect and in some corners we struggle a bit, especially when the tyre drops.
“But we have tomorrow to work on that. I’m happy the speed is there but not 100 percent because of the rear tyre. So there’s a lot of work to do.”
