"I was pushing hard to make a pass on lap four when I made a mistake and lost a few positions, so I gritted my teeth and pushed hard to stay with the group in front," said the Kawasaki star. "I was right with Toseland and Dovizioso when they had a coming together, which left the door open for me to make up another position. Although I'm pleased with the result, we still have a lot of work to do. My injury is feeling much better and now we have some test time so can continue the process of getting the Kawasaki to the top of the field."

Dovizioso, a highly impressive fourth on his MotoGP debut at Qatar, had reached the front of the pack with four laps to go, only to see all his hard work undone in the closing stages.

"I pushed very hard until I was in fifth position and ahead of Capirossi. After I made the pass I was tired and unable to pull away and I was also asking a lot of my Michelin tyres," explained the JiR Team Scot rider. "I was ready to fight in last corner, but I was going a little too wide and was trying to accelerate when James and I touched each other and it moved my bike wider still and I lost grip. After this contact there was no chance to keep fifth and I ended up eighth."