MotoGP Barcelona: Dovizioso, “I believe we have what it takes to stay in front”

MotoGP GP Catalunya 2017 Barcelona Ducati – Mugello winner Andrea Dovizioso achieved the seventh fastest time in qualifying in Barcelona. “Dovi” is however confident from a race perspective, a race which he says will be problematic for everyone, given the high degradation of the tyres. Two Ducatis are on the front row, those of Jorge Lorenzo and Danilo Petrucci, confirming the competitiveness of the Desmosedici GP17.

Andrea, tell us about your day of rehearsals.

“It was a strange day for everyone. First because the chicane has been changed again, then because it is a bit difficult for everyone to manage the grip and the tyres. But everyone struggles, any bike struggles. The conditions are difficult. I'm happy, in the afternoon when it was hot we improved the feeling with the front. I was afraid we couldn't do it. unfortunately we couldn't set interesting times in the afternoon because we had used tyres, I don't think anyone started on used tyres. so we were a little slow. The feeling was good. However it is a question of survival. You can't push you just have to administer. I believe we have what it takes to stay ahead. I was hoping for better than seventh place, but with the soft tires I was never fast. In the tests I was slow, and this morning I was slow too, I never have a feeling when we put on the soft tire. So all in all my time is good. Lorenzo did a good lap, and I congratulate him, but I think that tomorrow with a good start we can have our say."

Is the track at the limit of "practicability"?

“No, not to this point, we MotoGP riders are used to it quite well, I think there has been a lot of work from a safety point of view and also from the point of view of the asphalt. We often ask to resurface the slopes and we are often listened to. It's logical that it's one of the worst we can find in the championship, but I repeat, we're used to it well. Barcelona is one of the worst tracks in terms of tire wear. It always has been and always will be, due to the shape of the track. Then the little grip there is complicates the work of the tires. Yesterday at the Safety Commission we decided that it is essential to resurface and return to the classic layout, making a suitable escape route at turn 13. An idea that came to us is to do like Assen, where they made space under the grandstand."

Has the Ducati become the most consistent motorcycle?

“If we look from Mugello yes but from the beginning of the season no. We suffered at Le Mans, and if we look at the other races where we didn't fight for the podium we always took a lot of seconds. §So we can't talk about a constant and competitive bike, and this is the reason why I say that we can't play for the championship yet. On tracks where we are not competitive we lose too much. However, the championship is going in a very strange direction, maybe someone expects certain performances but then this doesn't happen. It's clear that the tires are influencing the championship, in which direction I don't know because something different happens every time. If we look at Valentino's pace we can say that we can play for victory, on Saturday we already take the results for granted, then tomorrow anything can happen, let's wait for tomorrow and draw conclusions."

Photos: Alex Farinelli