Andrea Dovizioso produced a not satisfied performance in qualifying at Phillip Island and will start Sunday’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix from the fourth row, with the tenth fastest time.
Dovizioso was tenth in combined free practice times after the morning session, which meant he passed directly into Q2. In the afternoon’s final free practice, which took place in mild, sunny conditions, he was eighth quickest.
In Q2 the Ducati Team rider chose the asymmetric front slick and soft rear tyre option, choosing a two-exit strategy and on the second run he set a time of 1’29.267 on his first lap, qualifying tenth and on row 4 for Sunday’s Australian GP.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1’29.267 (10th)
“Obviously I am not satisfied with my tenth place, but I am quite pleased because we were able to improve in every session: this afternoon we were much closer in race pace, and I could do low 1m30s times on my own. I’d say that for the race we can get in amongst the second group. When the weekend begins like it did yesterday and you cannot do what you want with the bike, it’s never easy to improve on the second day and so I am happy with the work that we have done. For sure I’m still missing something to be able to go quicker, but it was important for me to improve and to understand certain things, which is what we have done today.”