MotoGP, Dovizioso: a pole I didn't expect

Sometimes things don't go according to plan, but the result turns out to be great anyway. The pole position scored by Dovizioso at Sepang is, by his own admission, the strangest of his career but perhaps also one of the best. Also because Andrea set the two best times of the session.

“I started with the soft tyre thinking that it was the best choice, but then I had my doubts when I saw everyone on the hard  - he recounts - The front moved around a lot on corner-entry but I was able to complete a lap without pushing 100%”.

The time was already excellent, good enough for the pole.

“But I thought it might not be enough  - he continues - Also, I didn't decide to stop right way, I thought about it for almost a lap, I didn't take the short-cut to the pits and lost more time”.

Despite all this, Dovizioso came in and then lowered his time even further.

“I could only make two laps sadly, with a third I'd have improved further - he reveals - Luckily it was enough, the strategy wasn't perfect and so I was surprised to score pole”.

It would be understandable if Dovi were doing a rain dance ahead of tomorrow's race…

“No, I know I have more cards to play in the wet but I'd prefer a dry race, and a warm-up that I can use to sort the bike - he confirms - The problem are those wet patches that don't dry. It's really strange, there are those tracks that dry quicker or slower, but what we have here doesn't some normal to me. Also , as it's dark asphalt, you can't see the puddles and if you put your wheel in one you'll go down. This morning, in FP3, I couldn't take the lines I wanted to”.

He's not convinced by the final off-camber turn either.

“I expected a bigger change in terms of riding it, but passing there is more difficult - he explains - You can't brake hard on entry like you could before, it's easy to make a mistake and run long”.

Dovizioso is now a wizard in the wet but this wasn't always the case.

“In minimoto I would always win in the wet, but when I moved to the big bikes I was a disaster  - he recalls - In my first years in 125 I had trouble riding in the wet, then I improved and from 250 onwards I've been strong. You can't train for certain conditions, you just have to have the right mental approach when you come across them, and then try and retain any improvement you're able to make”.