MotoGP leader Andrea Dovizioso wary of less consistent rivals in race to figure out Ducati

Andrea Dovizioso admits to be somewhat bemused at having moved into the lead of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship ahead of the Catalunya MotoGP despite finishing a lacklustre seventh and eighth in the two Misano races.

The Italian has only stepped on the podium twice this season - a third in Jerez and a win in Austria - but has had results ranging from fifth and 11th in each other five events.

Crucially however, he is one of only three riders - together with Takaaki Nakagami and Alex Marquez - not to have DNF’d this season, meaning even though he could only manage seventh and eighth in Misano, he actually ascended past Fabio Quartararo into the lead of the standings.

Even so, it remains close up at the top with four riders within four points, leaving Dovizioso - who has scored an average of 12 points per race, or 4/5th - wary that he is vulnerable should rivals discover consistency given his ongoing struggles to find performance on the Ducati. 

“I’m very surprised. Apart from Austria and Jerez 1 I haven’t felt as strong as in the past so I didn’t expect to be leading the championship, but in the end it’s been a crazy championship because everybody is struggling. 

“The average score is very low because there is no consistency, so it looks like the season starts now because we are very close and unfortunately my feeling with the bike is not the best. What we have to change has been clear from a few races but for me to change it’s very difficult. 

“But it is the small things and it can affect things in the races. I don’t know if we will be competitive in Barcelona because the grip will be very different compared to Misano. On paper everyone looks really fast.”