One day on from Lorenzo's former team Yamaha launching its 2017 bike, Ducati revealed its new livery on a 2016 bike at its headquarters in Bologna on Friday morning.

The GP17 will be the first Ducati to not feature the now-banned aerodynamic winglets since 2014, after the Italian marque pioneered their use in 2015.

Lorenzo joins Andrea Dovizioso at the team after nine seasons at Yamaha, the Spaniard replacing Suzuki-bound Andrea Iannone.

The 2010, 2012 and 2015 champion had his first taste of Ducati machinery last November in post-season Valencia testing, where he was third and eighth respectively on the two days.

However, Yamaha - which had a valid contract with Lorenzo until the end of 2016 - prevented him from appearing in a private Jerez test later in the month.

“For me it was a bit of a shock," said Lorenzo of his first experience aboard the Ducati. "But the truth is it was a big, major, positive change.

“The stability of this bike is incredible. The rideability is absolutely unparalleled. It’s so powerful, it looks like a nervous bike, but it’s not.

“It’s easy to keep control both on the straights and also in the corners. It’s an incredible surprise.”

Lorenzo and Dovizioso will next be in action when pre-season testing resumes on January 30 at Sepang, although test riders Casey Stoner and Michele Pirro will carry out more development work at the Malaysian circuit from January 25-27.