MotoGP #SepangTest J.3 Andrea Dovizioso “Our pace was never really exceptional during these three days but we are better the bike is more competitive than last year”

After his exceptional 2017 season, punctuated by six Grand Prix victories, Andrea Dovizioso knows that a very big year awaits him. In 2018 he can be crowned World Champion, this will perhaps be the only opportunity of his life and he will do everything to obtain the supreme title.

His main opponent could be his teammate Lorenzo, but it is obvious that Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales and Johann Zarco will be there to provide him with contradiction.

Dovizioso fell without seriousness during the first part of the third day, losing the front in the first corner. He was able to leave shortly after and only lost a little time on the adventure. “ The conditions were not very good, explained Dovi. The track was completely dry, but the humidity was high, so I had less grip than expected… I felt like I was at the limit at the front, but I was still pushing. And the rear tire was better than the previous one. I was then too fast in turn 1. It was a harmless accident. »

Andrea's chronometric evolution over these three days was as follows: Second on the first day at 0.343 from Dani Pedrosa, Dovi moved to eighth on the second day at 0.377 from Maverick Vinales, to finally close the third and last day in fourth position 0.339 behind Jorge Lorenzo. He finished in the general classification in fourth place, 0.339 behind his leading teammate.

Andrea Dovizioso:

“I am very happy, because this test has given us many encouraging impulses. These three days of testing here in Malaysia have been a bit strange. Today I fell, which cost me two precious hours. At the end of the day I couldn't ride the 2018 bike due to issues. We had to go back to the 2017 bike. But we learned a lot here. I like it.

“We are now faster in the middle of the curve than last year, the bike is a little better entering corners than last season. Unfortunately I didn't get any really fast laps today because I crashed in the morning. And then I didn't want to burn all the tires in the morning.

“In the afternoon it was too hot for the best weather. With the problems of the 2018 bike, we unfortunately couldn't quite finish our test plan. We didn't use the latest set of soft tires. But that doesn't matter.

“The improved sensation is more important, and my conclusion after three days is that it's going really well. But I know it can look very different on another track. The bike is more competitive than last year. We're definitely better than we were a year ago, without a doubt. And this applies to all tracks.

“We fought last year until the last race for the World Championship. It changed something in my mind. And my entire team now approaches the task with a different attitude. We are more confident. But our pace was never really exceptional during these three days.

“I think we will no longer have a 2017 machine in Thailand. We are focusing on the 2018 model. There will be a second 2018 bike ready for Jorge and me by then.

“I am now looking forward to Buriram. It's always exciting to experience a new circuit. At first glance, Buriram does not seem like a difficult track. Ducati has some data from the Superbike World Championship. This won't help us much. but it's better than nothing. »

MotoGP #SepangTest J.3: Chronos

1. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, 1:58,830 min
2. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, + 0,179 sec
3. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0,222
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0,339
5. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0,516
6 Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0,518
7. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0,552
8. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0.619
9. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, +0.681
10. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0.698
11. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +0.717
12. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0.785
13. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 1.132
14. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1.241
15. Alvaro Bautista, Ducati, + 1.375
16. Mika Kallio KTM +1,634
17. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1 696
18 Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +1,717
19. Karel Abraham, Ducati, + 1.744
20. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, + 1.954
21. Scott Redding Aprilia + 1.982
22. Bradley Smith, KTM, +2.139
23. Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki, +2
24. Tom Lüthi, Honda, +2
25. Yonny Hernandez, Yamaha, +2

MotoGP #SepangTest: Combined times of the 3 days

1. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, 1:58,830 min
2. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, + 0,179 sec
3. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0,222
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0,339
5. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0,516
6 Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0,518
7. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +0,525
8. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0,552
9. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0,560
10. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, +0.681
11. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0.698
12. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +0.717
13. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0.785
14. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 1,095
15. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1.241
16. Alvaro Bautista, Ducati, 1,375+
17 poles Espargaró, KTM, + 1
18. Mika Kallio KTM +1,634
19. Bradley Smith, KTM, +1.690
20. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1.696
21. Karel Abraham, Ducati, + 1.744
22. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, + 1.954
23. Scott Redding, Aprilia + 1.982
24. Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki, + 2.290
25. Tom Lüthi, Honda, + 2.296
26. Yonny Hernandez, Yamaha, +2.393
27. Michele Pirro, Ducati, 5,937