Marco Melandri has finally debuted what could be the bike he will campaign in this year's MotoGP series and managed to set second-fastest time behind Marlboro Ducati's Nicky Hayden.

The diminutive Italian was first out on track last night and managed a time that was just over a second slower than the works Desmosedici on a bike which has had little development over the winter.

Melandri is now under the watchful eye of project leader Ichiro Yoda who has replaced Kawasaki MotoGP team boss Michael Bartholemy. It is not sure yet whether Melandri will race the bike, as he wants to see how it goes in testing.

Last night was interrupted by a rain-storm, so Melandri was only able to do a handful of laps but he apparently reckoned the bike is already better than last year's ZX-RR.