This first post-GP press conference of the 2018 season today brought together Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Márquez and Valentino Rossi, at the end of a Grand Prix fought until the last corner.
As usual, we report here our translation of the entirety of the words of Andrea Dovizioso, without any journalistic formatting or distortion.
Very nice victory after three 2nd places, but you must have suspected that Marc would not be far away at the last corner...
Andrea Dovizioso: “yes, my strategy was to finish alone. Unfortunately (laughs), I couldn't, but I'm very happy because we confirmed today in the race the step forward we took this weekend and the difficult work done by Ducati this winter. In the past we were competitive at this track, but not like this weekend. I was able to manage the race, I was able to make a really bad start and recover a lot of places while preserving the tire at the same time, and decide on the strategy. With the level we are at, it's not so easy to get this chance in MotoGP, so I'm very happy about that. So we confirmed that we were more competitive than at the end of last year. But as always, as I said in an interview, we have to wait for the race to understand the level of the opponents, and, for example, I did not expect to finish the race with Marc. It’s MotoGP! This is why strong drivers never give up, they work on the details for the race.
And we finished the race in the last corner, as has happened before. I didn't want it but during the last 4 laps, when I took the lead, the rear tire was finished. I was doing good times, but not as good as I would have liked, and I couldn't follow my lines. So I couldn't create a gap. I didn't see it, but for sure Marc did something unreal to stay with me in these times, but I'm happy because I managed to handle the last corner in a perfect way. It closed more than before and I had to go to the inside of the corner because I didn't have much room, but I was able to turn the bike very quickly and use the power of the Ducati in the straight line. »
When you missed your start, did that worry you?
“Yes, you know, when you're racing you're always a little worried because you never know what can happen. But it was difficult, because no one could know how the tires would be at the end of the race, especially in Qatar. I saved the tire a lot and finished it with 4 laps to go. So maybe it didn't help me to start backwards, but I saved the tire a lot. I've seen a lot of fast drivers, but Qatar is a strange race because everyone has to save tires more than at other tracks. So there weren't many pilots attacking at first. »
During the first part of the race, you seemed calm before attacking in the final laps. Did you decide that, or was it another strategy?
“No, it was like that. On this track our bike works very well, better than last year. Last year we were already 2nd, but this year it's even better. I was able to play with the bike in a good way and I didn't take any risks at the start. I saved the tire and most of the time I wasn't very close to the rider in front of me because I didn't need to be. I was able to make every decision in a calm manner, and prepare everything for the last part of the race, because at that time everyone was saving tires. There wasn't particularly any rhythm at that time. At the end of the race, we did 1'55.2, whereas at that moment, at the start of the race, we were driving 1'55.6, 1'55.8. This means that everyone could go faster, but no one could drive with this time and finish the race in good shape. I knew this and handled the situation in a good way. »
You say you didn't expect to have Marc in the last corner. Who were you waiting for? Do you think we're going to see a lot of races with a lot of drivers very close together at the start of the race?
“(Sigh) I don’t know. I think Qatar is a strange race. First of all because it is the first race and it is always something special. Then the layout of the track, the wear of the rear tire… I mean usually it's always more or less the same drivers who are in the lead, so I think it will be more or less like that. But I think that like last year, there are really 5 or 6 drivers capable of fighting for the championship, not just for the victory. I don’t think this race is representative of everything”
Who are these 5 or 6 pilots?
“Um…. (sigh). The Yamaha riders, Zarco and Valentino, I think. Rins, maybe Iannone.
I expected to finish alone (laughs), but not with Marc (laughs). »
After this first race, do you think that you and Marc are going to be each other's main rivals?
“One of many, one of many!” I would like to, because it could be easier (laughs), but I think for sure Valentino, Dani, maybe Zarco, and maybe other drivers, I don't know, will be able to fight for the championship. I really believe that, and I'm not saying that because I have to! »
It's not a Honda-friendly circuit, and does it worry you that Marc is already so strong there?
“Yes, I think that’s the reality. I think we confirmed that we were more competitive than last year, but I think at this race the Honda riders confirmed that they were better than last year. So we'll see. »
Do you remember your first Grand Prix in MotoGP, and if so, what was the most difficult for you in this category?
“My first MotoGP race was a good memory because I finished behind Vale here in 2008. I finished 4th or 5th and it was a nice memory. I don't particularly remember anything difficult about this first race. Of course, it was spinning a lot more than in the 250 2-stroke. But at that time, MotoGP had a lot less power than now, especially mine. »
How do you view this fight today with Marc compared to those of last year in Austria and Japan?
“Marc said the right things. When I was able to beat him, and that seemed like a big thing, it wasn't on a good track for him. So it's very positive but you must remain objective. I know these things very well. I didn't expect to have him behind me during the last laps, and that's the bad part of this victory today (laughs). »
Do you consider yourself at the peak of your career?
“At the top, yes, much better than in the past. But like I said last year, I understood what I did, and it wasn't an achievement but reality. I confirm that. I am even better and this shows me that no one has limits. It's not my limit and, if you work in the right way, no one has a limit. So I don't think this is my limit, just like they (Rossi and Marquez) are at their limit. »
Johann Zarco was the only rider in the leading group who did not have a factory bike. Does this impress you and to what extent?
“I don’t know if he doesn’t have a factory bike. I don't know what his situation is. But as everyone knows, most of the satellite teams now have very good bikes. Many riders have my bike from last year, like with other manufacturers. Regardless, I think he confirms that he has a good approach and speed. As I said before, he can be a contender for the title. But he suffered a lot, he had no grip and he wore his tire too much. He led the race because we wanted him to, because everyone was saving tires. »
Find here Valentino Rossi's remarks at the same press conference
MotoGP #QatarGP Losail J.3: Ranking
| 1 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 42'34.654 |
| 2 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda | +0.027 |
| 3 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | +0.797 |
| 4 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | +2.881 |
| 5 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | +3.821 |
| 6 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | +3.888 |
| 7 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | +4.621 |
| 8 | 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | +7.112 |
| 9 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | +12.957 |
| 10 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | +14.594 |
| 11 | 53 | Tito RABAT | Ducati | +15.181 |
| 12 | 21 | Frank MORBIDELLI | Honda | +16.274 |
| 13 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | +19.788 |
| 14 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | Yamaha | +20.299 |
| 15 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | +23.287 |
| 16 | 12 | Thomas LUTHI | Honda | +24.189 |
| 17 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | +24.554 |
| 18 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | +31.704 |
| 19 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | +34.712 |
| 20 | 45 | Scott REDDING | Aprilia | +37.641 |
| 21 | 10 | Xavier SIMEON | Ducati | +46.706 |
| Unclassified | ||||
| 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 7 Tours | |
| 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 10 Tours | |
| 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | 10 Tours |
Photo credit: MotoGP.com
