An eighth podium of the season for Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan saw the Italian notch up his 100th Grand Prix podium across the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP™ classes.
It may not have been the victory that Dovizioso was after, but reaching 100 Grand Prix podiums is a phenomenal achievement. During 11 seasons in the premier class, Dovi has only had one campaign where he didn’t stand on the rostrum at least once. That was in 2013 - his maiden season with Ducati - but since then he’s gone on to achieve 37 podiums (to date) in six years, with his previous three seasons seeing the number 04 climb onto the podium at least eight times.
His most successful campaign was in 2004 when he claimed his 125cc World Championship. 11 podiums came his way that year, five of them victories, while two years later in the 250cc class he scored 11 podiums again. Finish on the podium in Australia, Malaysia and Valencia, and ‘DesmoDovi’ will equal that tally once more.
23 victories, 39 seconds and 38 thirds. Dovizioso has cemented himself as one of the best, most consistent riders in history, becoming just the 10th rider to reach a century of podiums. And he and Ducati aren’t done yet. That illusive MotoGP™ Championship crown is top of the wishlist, and in 2020 we should see Dovi fighting at the front once again.