Andrea Dovizioso went through all the stages in this Austrian Grand Prix. On Saturday, he announced that he would leave Ducati at the end of this year. A decision which, he knows, opens the doors to the sabbatical year, since all positions, except at Aprilia, are already filled. But he loves competing in MotoGP. So, to force destiny, what could be better than winning the world title? Can we indeed deny a newly crowned World Champion the right to defend his crown? Dovi will try this bet. The proof, he started winning again…
By freeing himself from the shackles of endless negotiations on the renewal of his contract with Ducati, Andrea Dovizioso also freed his mind. On the arrival of Austrian Grand Prix, he mentioned on this subject: “ we are human, everything is, it goes without saying that nothing changes. But my decision didn't come overnight, I've been digesting it for a while. Let's just say last night I slept a little more ».
An important element, but which was not decisive in building its success on a Red Bull Ring who will be on duty again this weekend… “ These tires have a big influence and in fact all drivers have ups and downs. You just need to change the way you drive a little so that nothing works or, on the contrary, everything goes well. Sunday I was competitive, but I still don't feel completely comfortable. I improved the braking but we need to do it in the middle of the corner and in the first part of the acceleration if we want to fight with Yamaha and Suzuki on the other tracks. Let's say we've already done more than 50% of the work ».
« In Brno and Jerez I had bad feelings, I couldn't brake and I was frustrated because I wasn't strong in any area. We studied a lot with the team and here we were able to put everything into practice, it was very important to return to competition and above all to win. I had to adapt to the Michelins, I hadn't had the right approach. It's our sport, we have to be ready, even in the next races. For example, in Misano we will find new asphalt, it will be like starting from scratch » develops Dovi.
“Zarco was very right-wing, which means he did something strange”
But he also admits: “ with Rins it would have been hard if he hadn't fallen ". And on the accident between Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli as on its consequences, Dovizoso comments: “ I should watch the footage again, I only watched it once and only the final part. The position of the two motorcycles on the track seemed very strange to me, I don't know why they were like that. Above all, Zarco was very right, which means that he had done something strange, normally this trajectory is not maintained in this braking ».
The teammate of Danilo Petrucci ends by outlining what he envisions as the rest of his season: “ I am focused on the championship whatever my future. The main thing is to be competitive, to be ready to race, that's my goal, whether my future is with Ducati or not. That's not the problem, I have the chance to fight for the title and I want to exploit it. The important thing is to be as strong as last year, I succeeded and I am happy to have succeeded with my team ". And to be clear, he ends: “ my relationship will not change because it is no different than in recent years ". His decision to leave is therefore irrevocable…
MotoGP Red Bull Ring 1 J3: standings
