“Well, with the power there is not really a whole lot we can do here (at Sepang), but we know we are lacking in that area so we know we have to try and improve something because at the moment it is a bit demoralising, when you try to follow another rider and the gap is so big,” Hayden began.

“There are some areas in which I also need to improve; this bike is obviously a little bit different to what I’ve been riding and I need to understand a few things, especially in braking and corner entry. I did make some progress as the days went on but, truthfully, didn’t expect the gap to be so big, so it is a bit frustrating.”

Hayden was the quickest of the Honda RCV1000R riders, 1.9 seconds down on Repsol Honda Team pace-setter Marc Marquez and almost three tenths up on his new team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama.