Despite being fastest on the two opening days of tes♛ting at Jerez, Gresini Honda's Marco Melandri failed to make an impression on qualifying tyres during Sunday's 40-minut🤡e BMW shootout - and finished just 14th.

"It was a difficult day but this test was very important to collect data and understand many things about the bike," said Marco. "This afternoon I also made a race simulation and we improved the race rhythm. We need to make a step fo▨rward with the qualifying tyre but I'm confident that the Bridgestone technicians will do🤡 their best. I'm confident because I trust a lot my team and our partners."

Team-mate Toni Elias, who has struggled more than Melandri ▨in adapting to the team's new Bridgestone tyres, was 11🍸th during the qualifying session and is now running out of time to fully solve the issue prior to the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix on March 10.

"We are struggling a bit because we need to adjust the bike to the new tyres so we need tඣo work a lot on suspension and chassis," said the Spaniard, before insisting: "All in all, I'm confident bec🎐ause the Bridgestone technicians are working very hard and the team is doing a great job."