For almost 14 laps in today’s French GP Andrea Dovizioso made Ducati fans around the world dream the impossible dream, after two difficult years, a victory.
The Italian fought for the lead with Dani Pedrosa until the track started to dry out and began stressing his tires and he dropped from second, to third and finally finished fourth, but no doubt a moral boosting race.
Ducati works exceptionally well in the wet with its traction and Le Mans shorter corners also help the Desmosedici, and Dovizioso believed that if continued to rain he would have been on the podium, but he also admitted that with this Ducati they can’t solve the problems they have.
“It’s always nice to be at the front of the pack! I’m really happy with my feeling with the bike, and as long as the tyres were decent, I was able to manage the situation well.
Dani had more than I did, but I was still able to keep a good pace.
We had good grip, which helped us to have a nice race, but as the track dried, the tyres began wearing a lot.
I couldn’t keep the pace in the last six or seven laps, and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make the podium.
I’m sorry for the team about that, but we had a positive weekend in all aspects, even in the dry.
” said Dovizioso.
Nicky Hayden finished an excellent fifth but he too suffered when the track began drying out as his tire also began going off.
“Rain races are tough, especially when you don’t have much time to set up the bike! I got a great start and picked up some positions in the first few corners.
I didn’t feel great at first, but I began to improve and was closing on the lead group when they were battling with each other.
I really enjoyed that, especially when the track was pretty wet.
Things got more difficult as it dried, but I was hanging in there.
I was looking for a way past Rossi, and when he crashed, I picked it up and ran wide.
I put my head down and tried to close the gap, but I made a mistake, and after Marquez got by, I just tried to stay up and get to the finish.
Top-five is our best result of the season, but for a while, I thought I had a possibility to do something really good.
Still, there were moments this weekend when we showed more potential than we have all year, and I’m really looking forward to Mugello.
”