Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) had a tough race at Phillip Island in 2015, and the Italian arrived a year later to put that right. Successfully navigating the torrential and changeable conditions on Friday and Saturday, Dovizioso then got involved in the podium fight during the race, as he battled hard with Team Suzuki Ecstar riders Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaro. Although beaten to the rostrum by Viñales, ‘DesmoDovi’ is satisfied with a much-improved weekend compared to last season – and the continuous progress of the Desmosedici GP16.
Andrea Dovizioso (P4): “I am satisfied with my race today, even though when you are fighting for the podium with just a few laps remaining, it is disappointing not to be able to reach it. However, if I think that last year here I did one of my worst races, managing to finish the race at Phillip Island with a fourth place is something really positive for me. I am pleased with the way we worked throughout the weekend, but especially with the way we are constantly improving the bike. I managed my race well, making the best use of the strong points of the Desmosedici GP in the parts of the circuit which were most favourable to us, and I was able to stay among the battle for the podium right until the end. Over the last one and a half laps, I decided to back down because I was taking too many risks in catching Viñales, but a fourth place at this circuit is a really good result for me.”