There is still much to do, but after a painful start to the MotoGP season, Ducati can look forward to unleashing their potential with Valentino Rossi finally approaching full fitness.
The nine-time world champion's lack of fitness after shoulder surgery in November has by no means been the Italian team's only problem.
The 2011 Desmosedici race bike has displayed inflexibility, unpredictable front-end behaviour and a speed deficit on the Hondas and Yamahas. But it has perhaps been the biggest obstacle because, as well as hampering Rossi's race performances, it also limited his ability to work with the team to develop the bike and resolve the other issues.
''When we started working in November we were last, both in terms of the bike's performances and my physical condition,'' Rossi said.
''Now we hope to have some good races and be close to the leaders, finishing on the podium as often as possible''. Ducati can take comfort from the fact that, for all their early-season troubles, the situation in the standings is not too ugly.
Rossi is fifth in the standings with 47 points, 31 behind Yamaha's championship leader Jorge Lorenzo, after four races. With 25 points for a win and 14 races to go, there is plenty of scope to make up the deficit.
Rossi's American teammate Nicky Hayden, the 2006 world champion, is eight points further back in sixth place.
Progress on the technical side is also feeding optimism at the team.
Electronic developments and a new chassis designed to make the Desmosedici more responsive helped Rossi clinch his first podium finish since joining Ducati with third place at the last grand prix at Le Mans, France.
''Finally, I'm going fast,'' Rossi said after the race.
But the 32-year-old, who has claimed seven of his world titles in the premium class, wants more from the team and from himself.
Ducati race bikes are notoriously hard to handle and the Italian knows he still has some adapting to do, having admitted his lack of familiarity with the Desmosedici enabled his compatriot Andrea Dovizioso to pip him to second place at Le Mans.
''We still have to keep working and improving, because there's more to be done,'' he said. ''I also have to improve and keep adapting my style to the Ducati, because I'm still not riding it as I should''.
The nine-time world champion's lack of fitness after shoulder surgery in November has by no means been the Italian team's only problem.
The 2011 Desmosedici race bike has displayed inflexibility, unpredictable front-end behaviour and a speed deficit on the Hondas and Yamahas. But it has perhaps been the biggest obstacle because, as well as hampering Rossi's race performances, it also limited his ability to work with the team to develop the bike and resolve the other issues.
''When we started working in November we were last, both in terms of the bike's performances and my physical condition,'' Rossi said.
''Now we hope to have some good races and be close to the leaders, finishing on the podium as often as possible''. Ducati can take comfort from the fact that, for all their early-season troubles, the situation in the standings is not too ugly.
Rossi is fifth in the standings with 47 points, 31 behind Yamaha's championship leader Jorge Lorenzo, after four races. With 25 points for a win and 14 races to go, there is plenty of scope to make up the deficit.
Rossi's American teammate Nicky Hayden, the 2006 world champion, is eight points further back in sixth place.
Progress on the technical side is also feeding optimism at the team.
Electronic developments and a new chassis designed to make the Desmosedici more responsive helped Rossi clinch his first podium finish since joining Ducati with third place at the last grand prix at Le Mans, France.
''Finally, I'm going fast,'' Rossi said after the race.
But the 32-year-old, who has claimed seven of his world titles in the premium class, wants more from the team and from himself.
Ducati race bikes are notoriously hard to handle and the Italian knows he still has some adapting to do, having admitted his lack of familiarity with the Desmosedici enabled his compatriot Andrea Dovizioso to pip him to second place at Le Mans.
''We still have to keep working and improving, because there's more to be done,'' he said. ''I also have to improve and keep adapting my style to the Ducati, because I'm still not riding it as I should''.
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