Last year at Misano Valentino Rossi took second riding the Ducati, this year Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden couldn’t do better than 8th and 9th, and on the track where they tested rather extensively in July, and after debuting a new exhaust system during this weekend’s race.
Despite some recent development work, like the new frame that Dovizioso has been using on the GP13 ‘Evo’ Hayden has been stuck running the old frame because of ‘lack if materials’, but the difference between the two machines is slight, even if Hayden ended up two-seconds behind Dovizioso.
Both riders will be back on track at Misano today for the official IRTA post race test.
“Obviously, we can’t be satisfied with the result.
I made a mistake on the start.
Espargaro was in front of me and, unfortunately, I was distracted when he jumped the start.
I lost many positions and some seconds in the early going because there were many of us trying to pass each other in the slow corners, so the first few laps were pretty challenging.
Then I started to find my rhythm; I passed Nicky and thought I could do a faster pace, but I didn’t have a great feeling with the front end of my Desmosedici.
It’s a shame because I had hoped to be able to fight for positions a bit closer to the front,” said Dovizioso.
Nicky Hayden still hasn’t announced where he’ll be going next season even if dropped a bit hint that an ART machine run by Aspar could be be in his future after he visited the Aprilia headquarters, but he also has an offer from Forward Racing (Yamaha) and a big one from Ducati to ride in World Superbikes.
Talking about his Misano race, the American rider obviously wasn’t satisfied neither with his pace nor getting beat in the usual Ducati challenge against his team mate.
“It’s been a tough weekend and things certainly didn’t get any easier today.
When Espargaro jumped the start, I saw him out of the corner of my eye and delayed a little bit.
I lost a few places on the run to turn one but was able to make up a couple of positions pretty quickly.
Then it was a really difficult race for me, as it was very hard to change directions and stop.
I was racing with Dovi, and at the end of the back straightaway, I lost the rear and ran off the track.
The last few laps were pretty lonely after that.
I made two mistakes, one at the start, one in the race and they both hurt me.
The pace hasn’t been very good all week, and it’s a shame because the team is working so hard.
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