Frustration continues at Ducati.

The Ducati Marlboro Team has arrived at every grand prix since Mugello hoping to find the light at the end of an uncompetitive tunnel, but unfortunately for the Bologna based team it appears that Donington Park - like Catalunya, Assen and Laguna Seca before it - will again be a case of damage limitation.

Riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa both endured a difficult qualifying session at the British Grand Prix circuit to claim just 11th and 13th on the grid - with a frightening 1.8 and 1.9secs gap to pole sitter Valentino Rossi.

"We're in a difficult and frustrating situation," said Capirossi. "I did a 17-lap run at the start of this afternoon's session and it seems like we've got an endurance problem. Our only answer for the race is to run hard tyres, which, of course, will slow us down.

"It's difficult for the tyres to get up to temperature and I'm not getting much feedback, so I can't really feel what's going on. I don't want to accuse anyone because I can see how hard Bridgestone are working. They've brought many different new tyres here - new compounds and new constructions - but the situation is as I've just stated," he stressed.

Ducati MotoGP project manager Livio Suppo confirmed the depth of the team's problems - and that they centre around tyre grip - but was trying to stay positive.

"It's been a really difficult day," admitted the Italian. "Unfortunately the new spec tyres that Bridgestone brought here aren't perfect for this circuit. I'd like to thank both Loris and Carlos for riding really hard, despite the difficulties.

"We know that Bridgestone are working incredibly hard, and we know that when you are developing tyres or motorcycles, not every step is always a forward step. In racing, you have bad days, so we must learn from this to keep moving forward in the future," he added.