DOVIZIOSO GOES FULL THROTTLE
Ducati rider sets the pace during practice and stakes strong claim to title
Fadhli Ishak, Khairil Iswan and Saiful Affendy Sapran nstsport@nstp.com.my
ANDREA Dovizioso’s title hopes look very much alive after outpacing world championship rival Marc Marques in both the wet and dry at the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix yesterday.
The Ducati rider topped both the first (FP1) and second free practice (FP2) sessions at the Sepang Circuit, clocking two minutes and 0.671 seconds in the dry in FP1 and 2:11.640s in wet conditions for FP2.
It was a good start for Dovizioso, winner here last year, as he chased Marquez in the championship battle.
Marquez holds a 33-point advantage over second-placed Dovizioso.
“I am really happy as we proved our pace in both conditions (wet and dry),” said Dovizioso.
“The bike worked very well and it was a good day. The morning session (FP1) was not normal (slightly damp at the start) but the lap time was not too bad.
“In the dry (FP2) we wanted to confirm some of the good things we learnt from last season and it was even better than expected.”
Marquez settled for fifth in FP1 on 2:00.950s but the Repsol Honda rider improved to second in FP2 (2:12.166s).
The Spaniard admitted that Dovizioso possessed impressive pace but remained positive of his chances to wrap up the title.
“It was not the best day but we did not do too bad. We did manage to make some improvements and I am feeling good,” said Marquez.
“It is difficult to understand where we are in dry conditions but in the wet we are there. Dovizioso was just very, very fast in FP2 but I was also working well.”
Marquez has downplayed his chances of surpassing the number of premier class world championship wins by Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini.
The 24-year-old, closing in on his fourth MotoGP title this season, claimed he is not interested in breaking records.
In addition to his MotoGP championship wins in 2013, 2014 and 2016, Marquez also won the Moto3 and Moto2 world titles in 2010 and 2012.
“I do not really want to think about this (record). For now it is too far (to chase) at the moment,” said the Repsol Honda rider.
“I mean Rossi is a big legend and Agostini is an even bigger legend.
“At the moment we have five world titles (including Moto2 and Moto3) and we are trying for the sixth. I want to take things year by year.”
Giacomo Agostini is the record holder with eight premier class wins while Rossi has seven.
Crowd favourite Rossi was well off the pace as he settled for 12th in FP1 (2:01.662s) and sixth in FP2 (2:13.071s).