They didn't ask of course. But if they had, we'd have told Ducati that in shopping for Valentino Rossi's replacement that they should maybe forgo the entire MotoGP class and look for a rider who had no idea what a conventional MotoGP bike should behave like. Find a young man with talent, capability and lots of desire and set him loose.

Andrea Dovizioso admitted earlier this season he was surprised by the differences in the handling and power characteristics of a Yamaha MotoGP bike compared to Honda machinery, on which he had raced for his entire premier-class career, since 2008.

American Nick Hayden has some advice for Dovi as he prepares to leave Yamaha for Ducati after this season: With apologies to Bachman-Turner Overdrive, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Ducati factory veteran Hayden warned Dovizioso and fellow Yamaha refugee Ben Spies that adjusting to the idiosyncrasies of the very European design and operation of the Ducati GP13 will be a major shock to the system. Hayden moved to Ducati in 2009 after spending the first six seasons of his MotoGP career with Honda.

"It's always hard to say how someone will get on with the Ducati," Hayden told British media. "Some riders jell with it, and others don't.

"European bikes are stiffer, and if you don't have any other experience, it could be easier to get used to it. It took me quite awhile. The main thing is to get on it and not adjust it more than you have to so it fits you OK.

"You have to adjust to the Ducati. You're not going to make it like a Yamaha."

Hayden suggested Ducati junior team signee Andrea Iannone may have an easier time coping with the Desmosedici than factory team recruit Dovizioso or junior team newcomer Spies because he is coming to the premier class next season as a rookie, with no previous experience with MotoGP machinery.

"Sometimes it's easier for kids who get on the Ducati who have not been riding anything else in the MotoGP class," Hayden said. "After riding a Japanese bike, it can be really strange."