It was a thrilling victory for Andrea Dovizioso in the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring at the weekend.
The Ducati Team’s Italian got the better of championship leader Marc Marquez at the final corner to take the chequered flag.
Dovizioso powered away well at the start from the front row, then overtook early race leader Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) on lap six. He was followed immediately by Marquez, with whom Dovizioso then had an amazing scrap that only finished at the chequered flag, with Andrea flashing across the line first by just 0.213s.
With this victory, Ducati continued its unbeaten winning streak at the Red Bull Ring since the Austrian circuit returned to the MotoGP calendar. The red bikes from the Borgo Panigale factory won there in 2016 with Andrea Iannone, in 2017 with Dovizioso, last year with Jorge Lorenzo and again this year with Dovizioso.
In the overall riders’ championship standings, Dovizioso is still in second place but he has reduced the gap to leader Marquez to 58 points.
“Today I’m so happy, because this victory was really important for me,” said Dovizioso.
“Towards the end of the race I had good right-side grip on the tyre and this allowed me to successfully attempt that incredible overtaking move at the final corner.
“My strategy for the race was to be aggressive right from the opening lap, but Marquez was more aggressive than me. He immediately tried to impose his rhythm but I was always able to respond and in the final stages I think he had more wear on his tyres than me so I could stay right on his tail until the end, and attempt that crazy passing move on him at the final corner.
“I want to thank Ducati and my team because today we did everything just perfectly.”
Marquez was philosophical about the result.
“I’m happy because today we made a mistake with the rear tyre, immediately I saw all the soft tyres had better grip and even their consistency at the end was better than us,” said Marquez.
“Even like this I tried because I’m Marc and I need to try! The second place is good, we missed in the last corner with a lot of sliding but Dovi did an incredible job. Still we are able to leave here with a 58-point lead so we will keep continuing like this.
“Even when we are not in the best shape, we are able to finish like this which is positive overall.”
The MotoGP riders will next be out on track in the United Kingdom for the British GP, scheduled for the weekend of 23-25 August at the Silverstone circuit.
Photo courtesy Ducati Europe
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RESULTS & STANDINGS:
Austrian GP results:
1 Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, ITA, 39’34.771
2 Marc Marquez, Honda, ESP, 39’34.984
3 Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha, FRA, 39’40.888
4 Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 39’42.490
5 Maverick Viñales, Yamaha, ESP, 39’43.445
6 Alex Rins, Suzuki, ESP, 39’43.466
7 Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati, ITA, 39’50.792
8 Miguel Oliveira, KTM, PRT, 39’50.977
9 Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, ITA, 39’52.121
10 Franco Morbidelli, Yamaha, ITA, 39’55.281
11 Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, JPN, 39’57.044
12 Johann Zarco, KTM, FRA, 40’00.274
13 Stefan Bradl, Aprilia, DEU, 40’06.733
14 Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, ESP, 40’09.512
15 Karel Abraham, Ducati, CZE, 40’22.880
16 Andrea Iannone, Aprilia, ITA, 40’46.598
Championship standings:
1 MARQUEZ Marc, 230 points.
2 DOVIZIOSO Andrea, 172
3 PETRUCCI Danilo 136
4 RINS Alex, 124
5 ROSSI Valentino, 103
6 VINALES Maverick, 102
7 QUARTARARO Fabio, 92
8 MILLER Jack, 86
9 CRUTCHLOW Cal, 78
10 NAKAGAMI Takaaki, 62
11 ESPARGARO Pol, 61
12 MORBIDELLI Franco, 58
13 MIR Joan, 39
14 ESPARGARO Aleix, 33
15 OLIVEIRA Miguel, 26
16 BAGNAIA Francesco, 24
17 ZARCO Johann, 22
18 IANNONE Andrea, 21
19 LORENZO Jorge, 19
20 BRADL Stefan, 16
21 RABAT Tito, 14
22 PIRRO Michele, 9
23 ABRAHAM Karel, 4
24 GUINTOLI Sylvain, 3
25 SYAHRIN Hafizh, 3