This season is disturbing to say the least for Cartesian Andrea Dovizioso. What he likes is to control all the parameters after an in-depth study which reveals all the secrets to develop theories. An impossible strategy this year. In five Grands Prix, we have had four different winners highlighting three brands: Yamaha first, KTM then, then Ducati with Dovi and again KTM. What bothers anyone who leaves the red house at the end of the year is that the hero of a meeting becomes the extra of the next day. An instability of which he designates the cause. The very one he has been pointing his finger at since last winter and the first off-season tests: Michelin.
Andrea Dovizioso do not understand. How can his performances vary so much in one week on exactly the same circuit? It's even worse than that. All it takes is one pit stop to change everything. On the arrival of Grand Prix of Styria, the one who finished fifth says: “ In the first race, the one interrupted by the red flag, the situation was very, very strange. In practice I had done a lot of laps with the medium tire at the rear, everything had always gone well, but as soon as I started again I realized that it was no longer working and the situation continued to deteriorate. 'aggravate ».
Dovi went to ask for explanations from Michelin ... " They told me they had to analyze what happened. I don't want to say more, but I'm sure something went wrong ". The official Ducati still recovered 8 points on Quarterly and is only 3 lengths from the head of the championnat. But given the general situation, that no longer means anything: “ I'm in a good situation, but when there are so many ups and downs it means you don't have control of the situation and that's not a good feeling ».
He adds : " over the last 4 or 5 years I had always managed to be consistent, so this is something unusual. I have no answer as to why it happens like this. There is no clear explanation, it's all speculation and it bothers me. Usually, when we are slow, we get angry, understand the problem and then start working to find the solution. But today I went into the race thinking I was really fast and found myself running slower than most of the riders. You can't tell what's good and what's not, because there are too many ups and downs. For me and my team, it's destabilizing ».
“You think you're fast and then you find yourself eleventh, that's not normal”
Once the observation is made, we must identify the suspect... And it is the tire. Is this a quality issue or limited usage range? “ Both " answers Dovizioso. " The first point is that the new tire causes problems for everyone. We had already complained in winter, now the others too, that means we understood something, and that's what's causing these ups and downs. Then, not all tires are exactly the same. We discussed it with Michelin at the safety commission and I think they are doing their best, I am not questioning their commitment, they are aware of the problem ».
« Pointing fingers is not my style and serves no purpose, but they don't have the situation under control. We live in instability, you think you're fast and then you find yourself eleventh, it's not normal, a driver is very fast on one track and very slow on another. Again, it's not normal for such different things to happen in two consecutive races on the same track ».
But then, who is the favorite for this championship? “ Nobody has the answer, if someone tells you they know, they're telling lies " answers Dovizioso. on GP One. " My ranking position is excellent, but you don't know when you will be strong and you will have to live day by day ».
