Dovizioso still struggling in corners, ‘what we have now isn’t enough'

Andrea Dovizioso has played down the perceived step forward made by himself and Ducati during his victory in the Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring, admitting the nature of the circuit helped his eventual result.

On the weekend Dovizioso announced he would be exiting Ducati at the end of the season, he notched up his 15th career MotoGP victory – and his 14th in Ducati colours – around a circuit the team has a 100% winning record since 2017.

It comes after an indifferent start to the 2020 MotoGP season for the Italian, who has finished runner-up to Marc Marquez for the past three years, and one that has lifted him back into title contention, 11 points shy of Fabio Quartararo.

However, while Dovizioso admits he was able to make a step forward under braking especially, he says he is still struggling in the middle of the corners, an area that will leave him more exposed at other venues he fears.

“We understood a lot of things,” he admitted. “When we went to the track we were able to put what we thought on my style and everything worked immediately. For sure the track helped, when it works well for the track and also my style, everything is a bit easier from the beginning.

“In Jerez and Brno I was losing on the braking compared to the other Ducatis, this time I was gaining, so it means we did a step. I hope I can bring that to other tracks but I don’t think it is enough what we have now.

“At this track we can fight for victory but we have to be ready in Misano, so we have to be better in the corners where I am still struggling.”

Heading into this weekend’s Styrian MotoGP as a clear favourite again, Dovizioso says the team will still be working on new solutions since he expects a much stronger challenge from his rivals.

“We will try something because every time you race you understand a lot of things, more than the practice, it is always like that.

“I think also some competitors will be stronger this week because they couldn’t make the result, so they will be angry and like everybody they can see things in the race.”