Dovizioso and Mularoni delighted with first MotoGP podium

Sunday, 19 October 2008

After Andrea Dovizioso achieved his first MotoGP podium in Malaysia the Italian rider and his JiR Team Scot manager Cirano Mularoni were highly satisfied with the result.

Keeping alive his hopes of beating Jorge Lorenzo to the 2008 MotoGP Rookie of the Year title with his first premier class podium on Sunday, at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso was a happy man when he spoke to motogp.com shortly after the race.

Achieving the result in his penultimate race with JiR Team Scot, Dovizioso said, `I am really pleased because I wanted to get at least one podium before the end of the season to say thank you to my team, because we have raced together for seven years. We have come into MotoGP together and I´m really happy about that.´

Commenting on his great battle during the Sepang contest with the man he will replace at Repsol Honda next season, Nicky Hayden, the Italian youngster added, `The battle with Nicky was important because I am going into his place, but my opinion of Nicky is really good so I am just happy about the third position.´

Having finished in the top ten for the last thirteen races and been fourth on three occasions so far this year, Dovizioso is deserving of the rostrum appearance, and stated, `We have been close to the podium in several races but the level of the riders and the bikes is so high, so it is always difficult. Especially in MotoGP where the power is so high and the conditions on track change a lot so it is difficult to get a podium. It is amazing to get this one.´

Dovizioso´s Team Manager Cirano Mularoni gave his view on the result, stating, `Today was a beautiful day for us. It is the first podium for us in MotoGP so we are all happy. This was our dream at the start of the season and finally it arrived today. There was a great job from the team and it was an unbelievable race by `Dovi´ so we are very, very pleased. I hope we can repeat this result in Valencia.´