#CatalanGP J.3 Andrea Dovizioso “I will continue to improve to be competitive every weekend”

Dovizioso has just won two extraordinary races in quick succession, becoming the first transalpine rider to win a Ducati at the Italian Grand Prix, then dominating the two Spanish Repsol Honda riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa on their home ground in Catalonia. He thus achieved a double feat which now places him seven points behind World Championship leader Maverick Vinales, against whom he now establishes himself as his main opponent.

However, all the pitfalls were present this weekend at Montmelo, with a change of route, a very high temperature during the race, more than complicated tire capital management, and a track increasingly riddled with holes and bumps.

Dovi qualified in seventh position, which was not ideal as he had to start from the third row, alongside Jonas Folger and Maverick Vinales. But he made an excellent start and found himself in fifth position at the end of the first lap behind his teammate Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa and Alex Espargaro.

He then overtook the Aprilia and got closer to the three Spanish leaders. On the sixth lap, he took advantage of his teammate Lorenzo's temporary difficulties to take third position. The fight was subsequently long and uncertain against the Hondas of Marquez and Pedrosa. Then Andrea took command on the sixteenth lap and gradually distanced Marc, then Dani, to achieve a splendid victory, an example of talent and mastery. Dovi has undeniably turned a corner in his last two victories, and Vinales' lead has melted like snow in the sun. The Championship is relaunched. Thank you Dovi, thank you Ducati!

According to Andrea Dovizioso, “In Mugello we certainly didn't expect this result, because it was a very special race. To confirm this, we didn't expect it, because for the Catalan event, my feeling was very bad. It was the same as Friday.

“We recognized that the conditions were not good and that the rear tire was breaking down very quickly. So we didn't have to focus on speed. I wasn't the fastest on the track. But we focused on managing the engine, with heat and with worn tires. In the race, no one had any grip and no one could attack, because everyone had to spare the tires a lot.

“We were in a very good situation from the first round. I overtook a few opponents and decided to stay behind Dani. Dani drove very well and spared the tire – as I did.

“I spared my rear tire the same way he did. But I managed to keep the front tire a little better, because my acceleration was better. I never really braked. Therefore, he was perfect for ten rounds before the end. I didn't know what was happening behind me, if anyone could catch us, because our lap times weren't very good.

“But I saw on my panel that my opponents were three seconds away. So I was very relaxed. Ten laps before the end, I tried to push, but realized that my rear tire was at its end. But this also applied to opponents. You just had to create space and drive at the same time. Still, it was a strange feeling to win a race without pushing one hundred percent. I've never experienced it before.

“I think being at the front every weekend and fighting for the title is impossible for us. No one can predict the future – especially this year. I have no pressure on the overall evaluation. I don't want to think too much about this.

“In addition, I am focusing on the development of the motorcycle. We didn't change anything before Mugello. We still have the same limits as in the Le Mans race when we were 13 seconds behind. Mugello was a very good circuit for us, this weekend was very strange for everyone.

“I don't want to think about what we can achieve in Assen. I didn't expect to be competitive in Barcelona, ​​but I won. I'm very relaxed about the overall assessment and my situation, because I think I understand the bike and I know its strengths and weaknesses. It was now quite easy to use the potential and make the most of it in racing. I will continue to do this and improve to be competitive every weekend. »

Race ranking:

1- Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP

2- Marc Marquez – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 3.544

3- Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda Team - Honda RC213V - + 6.774

4- Jorge Lorenzo – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 9.608

5- Johann Zarco – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 13.838

6- Jonas Folger – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 13.921

7- Alvaro Bautista – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 16.763

8- Valentino Rossi – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 20.821

9- Hector Barbera – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 23.952

10- Maverick Vinales – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 24.189

11- Cal Crutchlow – LCR Honda – Honda RC213V – + 28.329

12- Loris Baz – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP15 – + 33.281

13- Scott Redding – OCTO Pramac Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 35.200

14- Karel Abraham – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP15 – + 39.436

15- Tito Rabat – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Honda RC213V – + 40.872

16- Andrea Iannone – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 43.221

17- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 44.655

18- Pol Espargaro – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM RC16 – + 48.993

19- Sam Lowes – Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – Aprilia RS-GP – + 55.492

World Championship :

1 Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 111 points

2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 104

3 Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 88

4 Dani PEDROSA-Honda 84

5 Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 83

6 Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 75

7 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 59

8 Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 51

9 Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 45

10 Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 42

11 Alvaro BAUTISTA-Ducati 34

12 Scott REDDING-Ducati 33

13 Jack MILLER-Honda 30

14 Loris BAZ-Ducati 23

15 Andrea IANNONE-Suzuki 21

16 Hector BARBERA-Ducati 21

17 Tito RABAT-Honda 19

18 Aleix ESPARGARO-Aprilia 17

19 Karel ABRAHAM-Ducati 11

20 Michele PIRRO-Ducati 7

21 Alex RINS-Suzuki 7

22 Pol ESPARGARO-KTM 6

23 Bradley SMITH-KTM 6

24 Sam LOWES-Aprilia 2

25 Sylvain GUINTOLI-Suzuki 1