It was an amused Andrea Dovizioso who took stock of his Portuguese Grand Prix. A test which, however, risks being the last for a long time. Because tonight, he is no longer a regular Grand Prix rider, he is no longer a Ducati official in MotoGP, and he is destined for a sabbatical year that some predict will be a pre-retirement, at already 34 years. But this last performance in Portimao awakened something that we thought was extinct. Did he think so too?
Twelfth on the starting grid of a Portuguese Grand Prix which he did not approach with the greatest optimism, Andrea Dovizioso it's like remaking the icing Portimao, this Sunday. He attacked and came back to an important sixth place which definitively places him fourth in the championnat. And a few points from the final podium. It certainly shares rank with Pol Espargaro, which is also an excellent result for the official KTM, but as the latter failed in his quest for success with the RC16, the position is definitively acquired by Dovi.
This time leaving his GP20 for good, the Italian commented: “ I was so focused that I'm still racing » he begins, filled with the noble feeling of duty accomplished. It must be said that this is his best result since the Austrian Grand Prix... And thanks to this ranking, Desmodovi therefore reaches fourth place in the general drivers' ranking.
“I pretend it’s not my last Grand Prix in MotoGP”
The satisfaction is great: “ I wanted to finish well, unfortunately when you start from so far away, it's a disaster, coming back is very difficult », Comments the Forlì driver to Sky Sport. “ We wanted to finish at least fourth in the championship, it was important, and we did it. We even almost finished third... Being able to achieve this result with so little feeling during the season is not bad! ».
This concludes a bittersweet year for Dovizioso and also a long love story with Ducati which lasted eight seasons. For now, 2021 is shaping up to be a sabbatical, with the hope of returning to the grid soon: “ I pretend it's not my last Grand Prix in MotoGP », admits Andrea. “ I keep training even more, don't worry, I do not give up. Thank you all for the support over the years, it's been nice ».
But a late rebound in the winter driver market cannot be completely ruled out…: “ who knows, we'll see! ", Comments Dovi who has found his smile again..."Dovi" competed in 327 races in the World Championship, without ever missing one, he won a world championship in the 125cc category in 2004 then for three years he was vice-president. MotoGP world champion, beaten only by the “cannibal” Marc Marquez (2017, 2018 and 2019).
MotoGP Portimao J3: classification
