It was a strange weekend that Andrea Dovizioso experienced at home. While he had just been confirmed by Ducati for the next two years alongside Jorge Lorenzo, one could have imagined the rider freed from all pressure and eager to deliver his best score. But this weight removed from his shoulders did not prevent him from experiencing a debilitating neck pain during the tests. Then forearm problems during the race. Despite this succession of ailments, he finished fifth in his race at Mugello.
That said, Desmo Dovi knows that he missed his national meeting. While he was suffering and looking for adjustments, his teammate Iannone shone in the lead and even the test pilot Pirro he outplayed him. Qualifying was missed with a final fifteenth place synonymous with fifth row. Crippling? Nope. Dovi was faithful to his checkered performance by achieving the start of his life which allowed him to claim the top three. Then the physical problems returned.
This time, it was the famous and dreaded “arm-pump” that occurred. With his forearms paralyzed, he had to give up and reach the finish with his head. For a fifth who still saves the honor: “ This weekend ended quite well especially since we hadn't seen the finish for quite a while already. I had an excellent start and very good first laps. I was well placed at the end of the first part of the race. But I wasn't relaxed on the bike. Halfway through my forearms started to hurt. I could no longer lower my times ».
« Mugello is probably the worst place to have this kind of problem. You can no longer be aggressive on the brakes and play with the limit of the front tire's grip. It was all the more complicated as the grip was less good during the race due to the high temperatures. ". So he had to let it go Iannone et Pedrosa. What to worry about for the future? “ I have suffered from arm pump for many years now. » recalls Dovi. “ Sometimes it works and sometimes it's more debilitating. The difference depends on whether I'm fast or not, but above all on the way I ride. Relaxed or not ».
A remark which makes him return to his conviction displayed since Le Mans on the working method to be applied at Ducati. At Mugello, he said it again: “ my feelings with the bike are good, we are fast and we are able to improve session after session. I am happy with the way we are working. But we need to think of something that would make motorcycling easier. Not faster yet. But easier. You have to concentrate on the same speed obtained with more ease ". And no longer by the strength of the wrist.
