Dovizioso fourth fastest, coy on 'Open' question
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso was feeling positive with his performance as the Sepang II MotoGP test commenced in Malaysia as the Italian rider took a step forward with the set-up of the Desmosedici.
Dovizioso avoided the enduring question over whether or not Ducati would try the 'Open' specification at the test when quizzed on the issue, saying: "No I don't think so. I'm not the right person to ask."
His best lap of 2m 01.029s was good enough for the fourth fastest time behind Gresini Honda's Alvaro Bautista, Aleix Espargaro on the NGM Mobile Forward Racing FTR-M1 and Yamaha Tech 3's Pol Espargaro, only 0.181s from the top.
Lap times on the whole were around 1.3s slower than the first test at Sepang earlier this month as a result of slippery track conditions, but Dovizioso had few complaints.
"The grip is quite low compared to Sepang 1. We improved the bike from the first test and I think the lap time I made today is faster than Sepang 1 when you think about the grip we had today," he said.
"We tried lots of different set-ups with the electronics and with the chassis and I had a better feeling; that is why we are close to the fast riders and I am happy.
"We have some set-ups to try tomorrow to try to understand how to improve with this bike, but nothing special," added Dovizioso.
"But anyway we improved today just with a different set-up and I am quite positive about that."
