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 Viber
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:
- Portimao MotoGP: Oliveira takes pole on home soil, Mir 20th
- Miller’s Portimao race won’t be dictated by Ducati title hopes
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 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
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 8 h
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
9 h
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 9 h
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
9 h
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
Feature
Discover prime content
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:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe