Andrea Dovizioso closing on elusive 2010 win

Andrea Dovizioso is keen to turn his run of second place finishes into a first MotoGP win of the 2010 season.

Having just missed out on victory during the Malaysian Grand Prix, the in-form Andrea Dovizioso is optimistic he can break his 2010 victory duck in the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

The Spaniard has finished on the podium six times this season, including two second place finishes in the last two races, but is yet to reach the top step for Repsol Honda this year.

Now fifth in the overall standings but just two points from Valentino Rossi in third, Dovizioso – whose plans for 2011 are yet to be determined - is confident he can challenge towards the front once more.

“We arrive in Australia in a strong position with two consecutive podium finishes under our belts from two tracks with very different layouts and race day temperatures. This means that we have made a big step forward. We have improved things a lot in terms of set up and electronics, and now we are able to fight for wins.

“On Sunday in Malaysia we finished just two tenths from Valentino, and we need to stay at that level and be consistent. Also, in the last two races there were two different winners, while we have been consistent in second place.

“So I'm confident that we can also be competitive at Phillip Island; a very demanding and technical track, and one of the fastest on the calendar. We aim to finish third in the world championship this season, so we need to score good results in the remaining races. Phillip Island is a very spectacular place; the circuit is very close to the ocean and this makes it unique.

“The atmosphere on race day is always really good because there are a lot of fans who are truly passionate. The real unknown is always the weather as it's always very changeable and it can be really cold. Anyway, cold conditions are not an issue for us so we are very confident for the Australian GP.”

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Dani Pedrosa prepared for Australia return

The Repsol Honda rider will participate in this weekend’s Iveco Australian Grand Prix after missing the last two races with a fractured collarbone.

Dani Pedrosa will be back in action this weekend as the Repsol Honda rider makes his return to riding following an injury-enforced lay off. The Spaniard has missed the last two races in Japan and Malaysia after fracturing his collarbone in a practice session crash at Motegi ten days ago.

After a successful operation the day after the fall Pedrosa has continued with a course of physiotherapy, which he will continue upon his arrival in Australia, and is now prepared to try and defend second position in the Championship standings after Jorge Lorenzo clinched the 2010 title at Sepang on Sunday.

Pedrosa, who holds a 47-point advantage over third-placed Valentino Rossi in the Championship, said: “It was hard to take the decision to not go to Malaysia, but after another week I feel it was the right thing to do because during these days my condition has improved quite a lot. So I’m looking forward to getting to Australia and finding out how I feel on the bike.”

“I will arrive at Phillip Island on Wednesday to have some time to recover from the flight and rest a little bit. I know it will be tough because Phillip Island is a very demanding track and also the weather conditions can play a big part, but I really believe it’s time to come back with my team and try to return to the high level of performance we had before the crash in Japan.”

“The Championship is decided, but for us it’s still not over. The target now is to retain second place in the standings and continue working on the bike so that we arrive in good shape for the winter tests, when we will start working for next year."

Pedrosa also extended his congratulations to Lorenzo after his rival’s achievement.

“I think it's very good for Spain to have another World Champion in the top class after Alex Crivillé's first title back in 1999. That was a long time ago… too long. So I'd like to say congratulations to Lorenzo,” said Pedrosa. “He rode very well this year right from the beginning of the season and made very few mistakes - so he deserves the title.”

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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Andrea Dovizioso loses out in closest finish of 2010

Last year we were 40 seconds behind the winner in the race here, so to be just 0.2s behind means we've moved forward a lot."

Andrea Dovizioso came within 0.224sec of winning his first MotoGP race of the season at Sepang on Sunday.

The Italian, carrying the Repsol Honda hopes alone after his team-mate Dani Pedrosa fractured his collarbone last weekend in Japan, trailed future champion Jorge Lorenzo for the first ten laps before seizing the lead at turn one.

Unfortunately for Dovizioso, another Fiat Yamaha rider, seven time champion Valentino Rossi, was now closing in fast on the leading duo and passed Lorenzo just a lap later.

Rossi overtook Dovizioso on lap 11 of 20, but Dovizioso stuck with the #46 - and even re-passed him briefly on lap 16. The pair were almost inseparable as the last lap began, but Rossi gave Dovizioso no opportunity to pass and crossed the line a fraction ahead.

“I'm very happy with this second place today and it was a great race," said Dovizioso, after his sixth podium of the year. "We have been fighting for the victory at the last two races at two very different tracks, and also in different conditions, so this is really positive.

"I tried to stay close to Valentino on the last lap but in the final braking area I wasn't close enough to take him in the middle of the corner, even though he was too late on the brakes and went wide. Anyway, this result for Honda, Repsol and my team is really important.

"Last year we were 40 seconds behind the winner in the race here, so to be just 0.2s behind means we've moved forward a lot. Also, in the middle of the season, we weren't on the podium for a long time, so to be back in the top three is very important for us."

Sepang was only the second event of the 2010 season to witness a victory margin of less than one-second. The other was round two at Jerez (+0.543sec).

“Again Andrea did a really good job today and he fought until the end and crossed the line less than a quarter of a second from victory," commented team manager Toshiyuki Yamaji.

"This is the closest he has come to winning in the dry and so we are very pleased with the progress of Andrea and his team. He battled hard and proved he has what it takes to win - he is very close to it now. Congratulations"

Dovizioso's team-mate and former title contender Dani Pedrosa missed the race through injury, but hopes to return next weekend in Australia.

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Dani Pedrosa - Congratulations to Lorenzo

"I'd like to say congratulations to Lorenzo today"

Dani Pedrosa has congratulated countryman Jorge Lorenzo on becoming Spain's first 500cc/MotoGp champion since Alex Criville in 1999.

Pedrosa was the only rider that could mathematically prevent Lorenzo winning the 2010 crown.

But his slim hopes effectively ended when he broke his collarbone last weekend in Japan, after a throttle problem in practice.

“I think it's very good for Spain to have another world champion in the top class after Alex Crivillé's first title back in 1999. That was a long time ago... too long. So I'd like to say congratulations to Lorenzo today," said the Repsol Honda rider, speaking from his home.

"He rode very well this year right from the beginning of the season and made very few mistakes - so he deserves the title.

"Of course, I would like to have been there today to try and keep the championship alive for a bit longer - even if we only had a very small chance of catching him. But it wasn't to be."

Pedrosa, who has won four races this year compared with seven for Lorenzo, is aiming to return to action next weekend in Australia.

"My recovery and physiotherapy after the operation is continuing to go well, and I hope to feel good enough for Australia and to get back to the level we achieved recently for the last races of the season," he said.

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Andrea Dovizioso - I don’t know what Stoner ate

"I don't what Casey ate today because his pace was amazing!"

Following the Friday injury for his team-mate and title contender Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso upheld some Honda pride with second place in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

Starting from his first pole in MotoGP, the Italian lost the lead early on lap one to Ducati's Casey Stoner and - while staying close to the Australian for much of the race - was forced to concede defeat in the closing stages.

Nevertheless, second place meant Dovi's first podium since round five and he is back ahead of Valentino Rossi for fourth in the world championship standings, with four rounds to go.

"I don't what Casey ate today because his pace was amazing!" joked Dovi. "I pushed 100 percent all the race but I never had an opportunity to overtake him.

"It was hard to maintain the pace on the tyre in the last few laps and I nearly had a big highside three laps from the end - at that moment I knew I couldn't win the race.

"It was a little bit disappointing because I wanted the win and I thought it was possible today, but I'm really happy to be back on the podium again.

"Following Casey I learned a lot about the strategy for tuning the electronics settings for the final part of the race when the tyre performance is dropping off, so this is really positive for the future," he added.

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Andrea Dovizioso - I don’t know what Stoner ate

"I don't what Casey ate today because his pace was amazing!"

Following the Friday injury for his team-mate and title contender Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso upheld some Honda pride with second place in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

Starting from his first pole in MotoGP, the Italian lost the lead early on lap one to Ducati's Casey Stoner and - while staying close to the Australian for much of the race - was forced to concede defeat in the closing stages.

Nevertheless, second place meant Dovi's first podium since round five and he is back ahead of Valentino Rossi for fourth in the world championship standings, with four rounds to go.

"I don't what Casey ate today because his pace was amazing!" joked Dovi. "I pushed 100 percent all the race but I never had an opportunity to overtake him.

"It was hard to maintain the pace on the tyre in the last few laps and I nearly had a big highside three laps from the end - at that moment I knew I couldn't win the race.

"It was a little bit disappointing because I wanted the win and I thought it was possible today, but I'm really happy to be back on the podium again.

"Following Casey I learned a lot about the strategy for tuning the electronics settings for the final part of the race when the tyre performance is dropping off, so this is really positive for the future," he added.

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Andrea Dovizioso tops Japan warm up

The pole holder set the best lap time in the final session before the Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday, ahead of Championship leader Lorenzo and Stoner.

Andrea Dovizioso's strength on the Motegi track was underlined on Sunday when the Italian set the fastest lap of the 20-minute warm up ahead of the Grand Prix of Japan, which he will start from pole position. The Repsol Honda rider's time of 1'47.775 was set in good condition with a track temperature of 28ºC.

Hot on his tail was Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha), who timed in at just a thousandth of a second behind and was the only other rider under 1'48", with Casey Stoner (Ducati Team) just over two-tenths further back. Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) completed the top five in the session.

Rookie Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini), Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) set top-eight times as well.

The MotoGP race is scheduled to start at 3pm local time.

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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