Dovizioso draws positives from Pedrosa pace

Andrea Dovizioso finished the MotoGP Official Test in Jerez as the tenth fastest rider on the timesheet, getting used to the different characteristics of the pneumatic valve Honda RC212V and Bridgestone tyres new to the Italian for 2009. Although over 1.5 seconds down on Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, Dovizioso saw the Spaniard´s time as proof that they are going in the right direction.

`Dani was very fast and that proves the bike has a great potential,´ says the new factory man. `I wasn´t so fast here, but it is still early days and now we have many ideas to try at Sepang.´

Dovizioso´s first ride with Bridgestone tyres had been at Valencia after the final race of the season, and he admits that he needs more time to get accustomed to the rubber before he is able to start matching Pedrosa´s times. The machine itself, however, has proved to be more to the former JiR Team Scot man´s liking.

`We are working to try and find a good setting for the Bridgestone tyres, but this isn´t so easy because the tyre construction is very different to what we´re used to. We saw last season with other riders who switched to Bridgestone that it takes a while to find the best setting. Anyway, I am happy because the 2009 prototype machine feels better than the 2008 bike in both engine and chassis.´

Any further acclimatisation was hindered by the difficult conditions in southern Spain, particularly on Thursday, leaving some simpler modifications as the focal point of the test.

`We didn´t have too much time to try too much (on day two). Our target was to find the best riding position for my style. We made quite a few changes to the position and we understood many things. We didn´t really have time to make any other big changes,´ concluded Dovizioso.