If, in Malaysia, it was not so obvious to see, in Thailand, the contrast was striking in the Ducati box. On one side one Dovizioso calm and sure of his technical choices. On the other one Lorenzo who returned to GP17 after expressing doubts about GP18. One has done a lot of in-depth work in preparation for the season which begins in a month. The other is still procrastinating about his future machine. And both are in negotiations with Ducati about their future…
Andrea Dovizioso, as we know, passed an important milestone in 2017 and presents itself in 2018 with the status of vice-world champion. A metamorphosis which is not an accident without tomorrow. We can see this during this off-season, where DesmoDovi works seriously and discreetly, never looking for an exploit on a tour. Meanwhile, his teammate Lorenzo slams the record at Sepang before arriving at Buriram at such a point filled with doubt that he put a GP17 back on the track to compare with the GP18…
For L’Italien, the situation is clear: “ For me, things are clear from Malaysia. I have no reason to try to compare anything. There are no big differences between the GP17 and the GP18, but the latter is better. I have no doubt. It's by doing laps with the same bike that you end up noticing the little extras, feeling the differences. And I felt them ».
« I'm better on the GP18, for example the handlebar position is better. So of course, Sepang and Buriram are not reference circuits and we can then have surprises, but the goal is still to make the most of what we have at a given place ". As for the performance of the competition… “ Frankly, I don't care. For example in Buriram, we had tires that we probably won't have for the Grand Prix in October. I'm happy with the way we work and the way we approach our equipment ».
A serenity clashes with the hustle and bustle of Lorenzo's box. And who would like to confirm the idea of Marc Márquez wanting that Dovizioso has not yet revealed its game…
