Dovizioso keeps heat on Marquez
ITALIAN REELS IN CHAMPION ON WET TRACK Championship riding on final race in Valencia in fortnight.
Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso won a dramatic and damp Malaysian MotoGP grand prix yesterday to keep his world title hopes afloat after championship leader Marc Marquez of Spain finished fourth.
“Yes, I am happy to keep my championship challenge alive,” he said at the trackside.
The Italian worked hard to stay in the front pack as a downpour just before the start left standing water on much of the circuit.
Dovizioso, who now has six wins this season, quickly defused speculation that team-mate Jorge Lorenzo had been under orders to let him through at turn 15 when the Spaniard was in the lead.
“He lost the front. I (also) lost the front many times,” the Italian said.
Dovizioso who started on the front row, crossed the line in 44 minutes 51.497 seconds. Lorenzo was 0.743 seconds slower while Frenchman Johann Zarco was third at 45:01.236.
Lorenzo said he pushed hard for victory but lost his grip in lap 15 when he tried to break.
Asked if there had been any team instructions to let Dovizioso win, Lorenzo told reporters: “Honestly, I did not see anything. In the rain you cannot lose any concentration.”
It was the first time this year that the Ducati riders had achieved a 1-2 finish.
The 31-year-old Dovizioso, who has a slim mathematical chance of claiming the title at Valencia in two weeks, said the whole team worked perfectly.
“We did everything perfect and it wasn’t easy. So I am so happy about that, to show to everybody we can really be competitive,” he said.
The Italian won in Malaysia last year in similarly wet conditions.
But Dovizioso admitted that Marquez would be competitive in Valencia, adding that it would not be a suprise if he won the title there.
Marquez, 24, can lose the championship if Dovizioso wins in Valencia and he himself finishes outside the top 11.
Zarco rode a brilliant race and set an electric pace to lead most of the way. He said he enjoyed riding fast at Sepang and was glad to secure a podium finish.
“It is okay Lorenzo and Dovizioso overtook me. They are much better riders,” Zarco said.
Dani Pedrosa, who started on pole, finished fifth for Honda ahead of Danilo Petrucci.
Italian legend Valentino Rossi finished seventh on his Yamaha.
The riders will meet in Valencia on November 12 for the final showdown, with Marquez leading Dovizioso by 21 points.
South Africa’s Brad Binder finished second in Moto2 for the second race in a row. – AFP