Although the Ducati has improved somewhat when going through curves in recent seasons, a circuit with a succession of long straights and heavy braking is not genetically designed to displease it...
As such, the Motegi Twin Ring suits the bikes of Borgo Panigale quite well, who won three victories there in 2005, 2006 and 2007 with Loris Capirossi, plus one in 2010 with Casey Stoner.
Andrea Dovizioso also really likes the Japanese track, and the Italian has been on the podium at Motegi in all categories, winning the 125 2004cc Grand Prix there and achieving two of his five MotoGP pole positions there. No victory yet in Japan in the premier category but two second places, including one last year just three seconds behind Marc Marquez.
He will start Sunday morning with a deficit of 16 points on the latter in the world championship standings, while there remains a maximum of 100 points to be distributed.
Andrea Dovizioso : “Motegi is a special circuit, one of my favorites, because you have to brake very hard and I am sure that we can be among the leading drivers once again on this track. I'm quite confident because I've always scored good results here in MotoGP, taking pole twice and finishing second last year. The next four races will be extremely important in the battle for the title and we are ready to fight until the very last moment. »
All Ducati eyes will therefore be focused on him…
