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Returning after the holidays is proving bittersweet for Ducati, for various reasons. Firstly, the work completed in Borgo Panigale seems to have resulted in smiles for some, starting with Lorenzo, while qualifying at Brno has put both bikes on the second row, ready to fight for the podium come rain or shine.
Andrea Dovizioso is once again the fastest Ducati rider at Brno, having qualified fourth “I'm very pleased, we're working well and making progress. Qualifying went well, both the lap time and position. In the afternoon we worked with tyres that had already completed a number of laps and the times set were very positive I think. We're managing the weekend well, in difficult conditions, seeing as today it was very hot. We'll need to grit our teeth but we can do well”.
Dovi appears satisfied, needing only to make small changes to his D17.
“Our base is very good, we don't have any particular limit. We're working on details, as are many riders. When you start fast on day one, you know that the base is good and you can work on the small things”.
So the Ducati is well balanced we could say, perhaps the most well balanced of the group.
“We're improving and in the last race we've been consistently competitive – explains the Italian - so we can say we have a balanced bike yes. We've got quicker and this allows you to do certain things more easily and to manage things better, but it's still a physical bike”.
Thoughts turn to tomorrow, and Dovi already has a target in mind.
“You always set out to win – states Dovi - especially when you have pace close to that of the fastest. This doesn't mean we have the win under our belts. It will be as tough as ever tomorrow, and conditions look like being variable and this means we have other things to consider. Anything can happen, the race is always a story in itself and I'll decide what to do once I'm on track, based on the situation. I don't think it will be possible to push to the max from start to finish so strategy will be important”.
Andrea's final thought goes to the tyres, a key component this season.
“I think the medium at the front and rear can be a valid option; I think it will come down to who can best manage the rear tyre while also maintaining a good pace, to be able to attack at the end".
LORENZO: “A VERY IMPORTANT SECOND ROW” – Andrea Dovizioso is not the only one smiling in the Ducati garage, as Jorge Lorenzo will start sixth and is feeling positive. “I'm generally very pleased – opens the Spaniard– as my position is good and we've been able to maintain a fast, consistent pace, similar to that of Jerez”.
There is some disappointment though, regarding the cancelled first lap of Q2.
“That conditioned me sure, as if I'd crashed on my second attempt I'd have had no lap time. So I couldn't take any big risks and this is reflected in my time, but in the end I was still able to make a good lap. I could have been fourth maybe, though it would have been tough, but the important thing is to be on the second row, especially if it's a wet race”.
The new fairing remains a hot topic, with Jorge promoting it today.
“The bike feels more stable in braking and also helps me in acceleration" – explains #99. “I'm riding better than I did at Valencia with the wings, where I was quite competitive on day one. I'm riding the Ducati more as it's meant to be ridden, though we still need to work to maintain the effect on the front tyre without losing speed, seeing as in fifth and especially sixth I'm losing between five and seven km\h compared to Dovi”.
The situation appears different to recent races, and so the Majorcan rider can also have different goals.
“I'm losing a lot in the second sector, where the Hondas are fast also thanks to the test they did at the track. If I had tested the new fairing here ahead of time, we'd probably have done even better. I think that, aside from the two Hondas of course, four or five of us have similar pace”.
