Ducati MotoGP boss Gigi Dall'Igna has said the final evolution of the Desmosedici GP18 will not be available for the first championship round at Qatar but will be ready for the 'second or third race'.

The enigmatic engineer still has work to do on the new model, so a version will go to Sepang in the hands of initially Casey Stoner and Michele Pirro before they hand over to Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso later this month.

"We have added some horsepower to our engines and I'm sure the rideability will be easier," said Dall'Igna, speaking at the team launch.

"You won't see the final model in Sepang, probably we will keep you waiting until the second or third race. We will be rigorous in the tests we carry out and cherry pick the real value-added evolutions and developments."