Redding insists his test pace is “no joke”

Redding, whose podium at Misano last year has been the highlight of two difficult years at the top level with Marc VDS, believes his switch to the Pramac Ducati squad can turn him into a serious contender in 2016.

“Most of the media laughed at me when I said I can be top six this year, but it’s not a joke," he said. “I’ve got the bike that allows me to show my full potential on the track.”

Redding was second fastest in the final pre-season test, behind only reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo.

“I’m happy – I said Qatar was the test to push more to see my potential and that’s what we did,” said Redding. “We struggled a bit earlier in the week to improve on new tyres, but we made some changes that I could use to my advantage.

“I go faster on the new tyre, then faster again as it gets older, so this is the real positive part for me.

“We did a 10-lap run, and on the 10th lap I set my fastest laptime. The tyre had done one run before, so there was 15 laps on the tyre in total, and the race here is 20-odd laps.”

Confidence returning

After his bruising formative years in MotoGP, the former Moto2 star believes he’s on the right track with his new team, and the switch from a Honda satellite bike.

“I’m really happy with the progression, and the confidence is coming back a lot,” he added.

“The Ducati was more difficult at Phillip Island, but it always seems to go well here and at Sepang and Jerez – I could take more chances, because we had two bikes.

“We gained confidence with the tyres and more understanding of the electronics, and my confidence is going upwards.”