Bit between their teeth
DOVIZIOSO, LORENZO AIM TO BUILD ON SUCCESS IN BRNO MOTOGP Spielberg is a happy hunting ground for the Italian team.
After Ducati’s dominant display at the Czech Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo arrive in Austria hoping to make further inroads into the huge advantage of runaway MotoGP leader Marc Marquez.
Ducati’s Italian rider Dovizioso won in Brno with Spanish team-mate Lorenzo second and Marquez only third for Honda.
The Spaniard’s five victories and eight total podium finishes in 10 races this season mean he is still comfortably in first place in the rider standings, 49 points clear of Italian Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), who was fourth in Brno, and 68 ahead of Dovizioso. Lorenzo is fifth, another eight points behind.
Brno was a circuit where Ducati had struggled and were without a victory since 2007, but Spielberg has been a happier hunting ground since the Austrian track returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2016.
That year, Ducati swept the top places as Andrea Iannone and Dovizioso finished first and second. Last season, the lead changed hands twice on the final bend as Dovizioso edged Marquez to win.
“For us the Red Bull Ring is a very favourable track,” the Italian said.
“I’m expecting to see Marc and our other rivals stronger than last year,” added Dovizioso, who also said he hoped the aerodynamic choices made in the Czech Republic will work as well in Austria.
Lorenzo, who recently announced he is switching to Honda after this season, was also looking forward to Spielberg.
“For us to arrive in Austria after the 1-2 in Brno is fantastic and there couldn’t be a better scenario for Ducati, if I had to indicate an ideal circuit for us,” the Spaniard said.
Honda and Marquez responded after the Czech race by setting the fastest time in a test day on Monday at the Brno circuit.
“Austria is another track where Dovizioso and Lorenzo are strong, but we were also strong there last year so we’ll see if it comes down to the last corner again!” Marquez said.
Even though Marquez has a comfortable lead in the championship, Honda is only second in the constructors table behind Yamaha because Dani Pedrosa is struggling in 12th.
“A day of testing after the Czech Grand Prix gave us the chance to work on our bike set-up, to try and sort out the issues we’ve experienced in the recent races, “Pedrosa said.
In Moto2, Portugal’s Miguel Oliveira (KTM) and Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) are duelling at the top of the standings with Marc’s younger brother Alez Marquez (Kalex) a distant third. Victory in Brno gave Oliveira the momentum and a two-point advantage.
Italian Marco Bezzecchi (KTM) took a three-point lead in the Moto3 standings when he finished sixth in Brno while Jorge Martin (Honda) was back in Barcelona after a breaking a hand in practice. On Thursday, the Spaniard was passed fit to ride in Austria. – AFP
1. Marc Marquez (Esp/ Honda) 181 Points, 2. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 132, 3. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita/Ducati) 113, 4. Maverick Vinales (Esp/Yamaha) 109, 5. Jorge Lorenzo (Esp/Ducati) 105, 6. Johann Zarco (Fra/Yamaha Tech3) 97, 7. Danilo Petrucci (Ita/Ducati Pramac) 94, 8. Cal Crutchlow (Gbr/ Lcr Honda) 90, 9. Andrea Iannone (Ita/Suzuki) 81, 10. Jack Miller (Aus/ Ducati Pramac) 61
1. Miguel Oliveira (Por/ Ktm) 166 Pts, 2. Francesco Bagnaia (Ita/Kalex) 164, 3. Alex Marquez (Esp/Kalex) 113,
1. Marco Bezzecchi (Ita/ Ktm) 133 Pts, 2. Jorge Martin (Esp/ Honda) 130, 3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ita/Honda) 116