Breaking news

MotoGP Portuguese GP

Dovizioso “very angry” over final Ducati MotoGP qualifying

Andrea Dovizioso says he is angry with his final qualifying session as a Ducati MotoGP rider after only managing 12th for the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Lewis Duncan Matteo Nugnes

Published: Nov 21, 2020, 7:50 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team

Dovizioso will depart Ducati at the end of this weekend and take a sabbatical from MotoGP in 2021 with a view to returning in 2022.

He will start what may potentially be his final MotoGP race from 12th on the grid, leaving him disappointed because he thinks his race pace is “interesting”.

“About my qualifying, I’m very angry and disappointed because my pace improved practice by practice and my pace for the race is interesting,” said Dovizioso. “For many reasons it was important to start on the first two rows because it’s very, very difficult to overtake in this track because you have to ride always with angle.

“There isn’t a really hard brake, and with the characteristics of the Michelin you can’t brake too late and aggressive. As you can see, a lot of riders did a lot of mistakes on braking, because we lock the front so easy with angle and it’s very, very difficult. I think if you start in front with a fast rider you can follow them because it’s more about flowing at this track.

“If you can follow somebody, you can be much faster in most of the track. In the race, if you are not that far from your pace you can make that [up]. So, very disappointed because what we needed was a good position on the grid. But we will see.

“We didn’t lose everything because we are fighting for the [constructors’] championship with a lot of riders and they are around me. The start is very important because the first two corners are tight and it’s almost impossible to gain a position. We have to stay focused because the speed is there.”

Read Also:

Though not a fan of the layout of the circuit, because it is at odds with his riding style, Dovizioso admits Algarve is a good place for him to end his Ducati career.

“I was very happy to make the last race in a new track,” he added. “It’s a wonderful place but I don’t like the layout that much, but just because of my characteristics and my style is different.

“Normally I’m a hard braker, Malaysia, Japan are completely different tracks [to Algarve] and it’s what I love. But anyway, to finish here is a really nice place.”

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Miller’s Portimao race won’t be dictated by Ducati title hopes

Next article Oliveira plays down hopes over home MotoGP win chances

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Lewis Duncan



MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed

MotoGP

MotoGP

MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed



A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?

MotoGP

MotoGP

German GP

A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?



What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?

MotoGP

MotoGP

German GP

What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?

Latest news



William Byron and Rudy Fugle really needed this one

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Martinsville II

52 min

William Byron and Rudy Fugle really needed this one



It's all over but the dog and pony show as Kyle Larson nears third Cup

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Martinsville II

1 h

It's all over but the dog and pony show as Kyle Larson nears third Cup



Penalty drops Oscar Piastri out of F1 Mexico GP points

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

1 h

Penalty drops Oscar Piastri out of F1 Mexico GP points



Alpine drivers penalised post-race, Ryo Hirakawa scores on F1 debut at Mexico GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

1 h

Alpine drivers penalised post-race, Ryo Hirakawa scores on F1 debut at Mexico GP

Feature

Discover prime content



Is MotoGP’s title fight over after the Australian GP swing?

MotoGP

Australian GP

By Rachit Thukral

Is MotoGP’s title fight over after the Australian GP swing?



MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together



Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix



The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight

MotoGP

Japanese GP

By Rachit Thukral

The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe