Ducati - Andrea Dovizioso Not Fighting for MotoGP Title

Andrea Dovizioso has warned that a stunning home race win by Ducati at Mugello is not the platform for a twist for the 2017 MotoGP title. The Italian defied the late race surge of Yamaha star Maverick Vinales to win the race at Mugello, Ducati first victory this season.

But despite the clinical win – and now sitting second in the standing – Andrea Dovizioso reckons the Ducati GP17 is not yet the motorcycle for a championship challenge.

Mugello’s long front straight was a gift for the Ducati Desmosedici’s 353km/h top speed, while the fast, sweeping curves masked the motorcycle’s lingering weakness – mid-corner speed.

I’m realistic. We have been really fast in some races but our base for 18 races is not good enough, according to Andrea Dovizioso. We didn’t change anything special, it was just that the layout of Mugello circuit suited the Ducati GP17 in a perfect way that day… But we didn’t fix our weak point.

I’m second in the points but to think about arriving at the end of the season fighting for the championship is difficult.

While Andrea Dovizioso was joined on the podium by Octo Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci, also on a Ducati GP17, there was a 14-second gap to factory teammate Jorge Lorenzo in eight place.

I’ve been overtaken in the middle of the corners five or six times, which is unusual for me, said Jorge Lorenzo, a Mugello specialist with five MotoGP wins at Mugello under his belt.