A championship in 30 laps. The MotoGP Grand Finale in Valencia is hectic – the paddock packed with fans and VIP guests, the press room with not a table available for the greatest show on Earth and a subtle tension in the air that makes the action frenetic.
The two title contenders are assaulted by the fans and are obliged to speed in the paddock at a to avoid the passionate approach of the Latin fans. The final battle for the title resumed today between championship leader Marc Marquez and plucky hero Andrea Dovizioso. The two rivals have started to study each other on track and continued sending messages to each other through the media.
Marquez crashed today, do you see it as an advantage, bikesportnews.com asks Ducati rider Dovizioso, which elicits a hesitated response: “We are used to see him crashing many times this year. But as you can see, this doesn’t jeopardize his results. Sometimes Marc exaggerates; he could make a mistake, who knows?
Do you think that Dovizioso can sleep sweet dreams tonight is the questions to Marquez, alluding to the fact that Lorenzo set the fastest time today, with Dovi in third place. “Maybe Dovi goes to bed aware that there are at least three riders that have a better race pace than him. The two Hondas of myself and Dani have found a good pace, but also Johann Zarco is strong”, he answers. Marquez finished fifth in the FP2, six-tenths behind Lorenzo.
Marquez' 26th crash of the season
“I feel strong. My crash at turn two? I gain a lot in turn one and turn two, so I wanted to push a little bit more to see if there was more margin. Yes, I crashed. There is no margin there, so I will look where I can gain in some other sectors. I always look for the limit in the practices, like this in the race I can ride within the limit. I’m approaching this final round in the same way.
“Then of course on Sunday, according to Dovi’s position, I will manage the race. A championship is more important than winning the race.” He exudes confidence, especially after his long runs on both soft and medium rear Michelins.
Some provocation, then: In 2006 Valentino Rossi lost the title in Valencia crashing right on turn two where the Honda rider went down in FP2. “Turn 2 is a corner I am always fast. Moreover I never focus on the crashes. I prefer to think of my battles to win as I did in 2013 and 2014. But anyway, in racing anything can happen, and it’s not done till the race is over.”
In the red camp, Dovizioso is not all that chuffed: “We know that the pace we have at the moment is not the enough. Dani and Marc have a better race pace, but it’s only day one. In FP1 we used the medium tyre and the soft in the end. In the afternoon we went out with used soft tyres. We will continue to work in this direction.
“On the other side, this is a difficult track for us as we cannot use the strong points of our machine. I’m not riding smoothly in the middle of the corner; I have to accelerate with less angle. I’m not happy for that, but all in all I’m relaxed if I think at the wonderful season we had with Ducati. I have no regrets regarding the season and on Sunday I have only one option: winning.”
This is becoming a mantra and what is sure is that the team-mates will play a key role. On this track Pedrosa has a record of six wins and that can be crucial. On the other side Jorge Lorenzo, can boast four victories at this track in MotoGP and he confirmed: “I said many times that I will help Dovizioso, but I don’t think he needs my help. I have to be in the position to do it. If I would renounce to my first win this season for Dovizioso’ s title? I have won many times. One more, one less doesn’t change. The title for Ducati is important and I’m a ‘corporate’ man…”
Dovizioso may not be happy of these declarations. The situation between two is not ideal, it seems. But as we know, the battle for the title is on track, fought with lap times, and off track with a battle of words. Pressure is the key. It has always been…
