Nicky Hayden wasn't trying to sugar coat a disappointing test at Sepang for the factory Ducati team as the American rider admitted: We obviously can't be happy.
Hayden finished the first test of the year in ninth position on the Desmosedici GP13 - a fraction ahead of new team-mate
Andrea Dovizioso - but behind rookie Bradley Smith on the satellite Yamaha and two-seconds off the pace of Honda's Dani Pedrosa.
Hayden, whose fastest lap on Thursday was 2m 02.110s, said: "We obviously can't be happy when our times are that far off of the top guys, but we knew it was going to be tough.
"Sepang has never been a particularly good track for Ducati: we raced here in October, and the bike hasn't changed much since then.
"We found a couple little things over the course of the test, which allowed us to improve our consistency on day three, but I think we need something big.
"I'd say we've pretty much tried everything on this bike. They've got some ideas for electronics at the next test, but in terms of the actual bike we've been most places.
"We need some help," Hayden added, underlining the need for new parts rather than set-up changes: "A couple of clicks of rebound and a bit of pre-load off the front is not going to be two-seconds!
"There are a lot of changes going on at Ducati and they just haven't had the time [for the new parts]. The new guys only started in January and you've got to run things before they come to the track."
Hayden said that Ducati should now consider working in two different directions with the Desmosedici to try and bridge the gap.
The 2006
MotoGP world champion also vowed to stay motivated despite the apparent lack of progress.
"We're definitely not giving up. This is just the first test."