We have the 2004 M1 here for reference, which is useful. It worked well here last year; we won the race and always did fast lap times so it will be interesting to compare it to the new bike and it will help us to understand which parts have improved.

Once the races begin it's more difficult and there is never that much time for testing.

It is dangerous and unbelievably fast and entirely different from the kind of track I am used to racing on

Fortunately during my career I have won more or less everything, so I need to enjoy it to have the right motivation.

I have won on Honda and Yamaha so maybe it is interesting to win with a third team, Ducati, who are Italian.

In my opinion we are at the limit now, and 17 races is really too much. With all the testing that we do now, it means we're always on the bike and it's quite difficult.

Nowadays, we have to deal with so many more factors that weren't there in the past. It's not enough to be a good rider, if you want to finish at the front. The riders have become incredible athletes. In the past, you could manage the race and fight only on the last laps. Now you need to train hard. You cannot allow yourself to go on track without being at 100 percent.