DOV SHINES IN THE RAIN

Andrea gains as rivals crash

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO won the last MotoGP race of the season as the rain caused pain in Spain for his rivals.

Champion Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and his Movistar Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales were among the big names to crash in a race which had to be run in two parts as track conditions in Valencia became too dangerous.

It was Ducati’s Dovizioso who mastered the conditions best to give the Italian squad its first win at the track for 10 years.

“What a crazy race,” he said. “That first part was very dangerous and I am proud not to crash because there was a lot of water.

“But in the second part we did some changes to the bike, we put on some new tyres and I felt good, the bike worked very well and I was able to push as much as I wanted and it was too much for the other competitors.”

Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins hit the front at the start and built a six-second lead as behind him the crashes mounted up, including Repsol Honda’s Marquez.

Dovizioso settled into second place before catching and passing Rins on lap 14 as the rain grew heavier and the race was then stopped. A restarted 14-lap sprint was ordered once the rain eased, and again Rins led from the start, although this time it took Dovizioso just three laps to hit the front.

From there the Italian wasn’t challenged and beat Rins by 2.750 secs as Pol Espargaro finished a heroic third despite a crash in the opening laps to give KTM its first ever podium.

Rossi looked like he had the pace to catch Dovizioso after moving past Rins on lap seven but it wasn’t to be as he crashed three laps later before rejoining and finishing 13th.