Scott Redding is back at Ducati after three difficult years at BMW.
The British rider is seventh in the world’s Superbike Championship heading into the third round at Assen this weekend.
MGM Bonovo Racing Redding finished three top 10 in Australia, but it wasn’t always easy to recognize Portugal’s adaptation to Ducati as he discovered that it was far more demanding.
“After three extremely difficult seasons for me, I’ve come back here with Ducati, and it feels really good,” Reading said.
“It feels good to be back when you can ride a bike and ride it in your own style.
“It’s something that motivates me to get into the race. When I get home and train, I feel like I have a good package of people and a good bike around me. This is the direction I’m looking for.”
Despite the improvements in feelings over the past few years, Redding admitted that returning to Ducati was not entirely easy.
“It’s a little difficult to get back to Ducati,” he said.
“To be honest, I thought I was going to ride a bike and I would be there right away, and I was a bit shocked when I didn’t really feel it was perfect.
“Slowly, it’s coming. It took a little longer than I expected, but it’s not a big deal.”
Part of the difficulty of adapting to Panigal was about the lack of time for preseason testing.
“We didn’t have much time on the test,” Reading explained.
“We probably had three days that weren’t in perfect track condition.
“The bike setup is a little more moving, so the electronics, how they work, and the tires have changed.
“I used the same tires on different bikes, but when I got back it felt different. It was trying to understand all the emotions and possibilities that took me a little longer than I expected.”
Redding added that there are “many” differences between Ducati, where he returned and the BMW he was riding previously.
“There are a lot of differences between the bikes I’ve used for the past three years and the bikes I’m riding now,” he said.
“It’s like day and night when you’re on your bike. For me, I feel a better front feeling at Ducati, but others have gone on other bikes and said they have a better front feel.
“In a way, there’s a difference, but it also makes things that riders like and what they think are good.”