Andrea Dovizioso scored another positive result at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, the Ducati Team rider finishing in fifth place at the end of the 24-lap race.

Starting from pole, Dovizioso crossed the line at the end of lap one in third behind Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. On lap nine the Italian was then passed by Marc Marquez and by Dani Pedrosa five laps later, after which he was able to maintain his fifth place until the chequered flag.

He commented, “I think we have to be upbeat about this weekend’s result and look at things in a positive way. We went really well in practice and qualifying, we got a fantastic pole position and we have always been up at the top of the timesheets. We are making our fans dream again and so it’s obvious that we are creating expectations, but the fact is that we are still not ready to aim for the win.”

“But it was great to do the early laps in the leading group. I really pushed hard but when the rear tyre started to drop off I was no longer able to keep with them. It’s all good experience that will help us for next year and I’m very pleased with the work we have done so far.”

Cal Crutchlow, who started from row three after qualifying eighth, crossed the line in tenth place at the end of lap one, but a crash at turn three on the second lap brought an early end to his race.

“I’m really disappointed for this result, and I’m sorry for the team first and foremost,” lamented Crutchlow. “I made an error by slightly jumping the start, so then on the actual start I released the clutch too late and got a really bad start in the end. I tried to make up some time because I didn’t want the leaders to get away so much, and I pushed too hard and made a mistake on the wide line into turn three and crashed.”

“I was actually quite pleased with my pace this weekend, we did a better job of it as a team, so I’m obviously very disappointed with the result. Hopefully we can make amends in Phillip Island.”



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