Today’s Australian GP saw Repsol’s Dani Pedrosa reach the podium for the third time in as many races, keeping him in contention for third place in the championship, currently occupied by the winner of today’s race, Casey Stoner. After a difficult start to the weekend, Andrea Dovizioso ended the race on a far more positive note. Beset by technical troubles and stomach problems throughout the practice sessions, Repsol Honda Team’s Italian rider rode well to move up four places from his starting grid position and complete the race in sixth.
Dani Pedrosa set off from the third slot on the starting grid, and with another excellent start, came into the first bend in the lead. An incident on the first straight left Jorge Lorenzo out of the race, crashing off the track after making contact with Nicky Hayden. After the first few bends, Stoner was already trying to steal the lead from Pedrosa, who wasn’t going to hand over first place without a fight. Yet on the second lap both the Australian and Valentino Rossi managed to get past Pedrosa, leaving him back in third.
From then on, the leading positions weren’t to change hands, with home-favourite Casey Stoner winning from Valentino Rossi, who consolidated his lead in the overall standings. Dani Pedrosa’s third spot leaves him in contention to fight out third place in the championship with Stoner.
For Andrea Dovizioso, today was by no means an easy race. Repsol Honda Team’s Italian rider fought out an intense duel for fifth place among the chasing pack. The group that included Elias, Edwards, Melandri, Kallio and De Puniet gradually broke up as the 27 lap race progressed, and Dovizioso, starting in 10th slot from the fourth row of the grid, finished the race in sixth. A tremendous effort from the Repsol Honda Team rider given the physical problems that have plagued him throughout the weekend.
Dani Pedrosa, 3rd at 22.618 sec. >> Audio
“It’s good to be on the podium again, especially after the crash in qualifying yesterday, so I’m happy about that. I pushed myself to the maximum in the race and we led for a short while from the start. Actually it’s a shame they don’t award points for getting the holeshot! Casey and Valentino were going superfast today and I just couldn’t keep pace with them once they came past. From then on I just tried to keep my rhythm going and tried not to make any mistakes. It’s a little frustrating of course not to be able to fight at the front, but considering the crash yesterday this result was OK and I’d like to say thanks to the team because they worked hard this weekend. The next race is in Malaysia and it’s a track that I like, so I’m looking forward to next weekend and I hope we can get another strong result.”
Andrea Dovizioso, 6th at 38.482 sec. >> Audio
“In the second half of the race my feeling on the machine improved and this was probably the highlight of my weekend here. Once I was clear of the battle for sixth I was able to ride at a good pace and realistically I think I could have fought with De Angelis and Edwards in this race. It’s just a shame that I lost time starting from tenth and then fighting with Kallio, De Puniet and Elias – which is what I feared might happen. I cannot be happy with the 6th position but I have to consider the whole weekend and the set-up issues we experienced in the practice sessions and also my physical condition which wasn’t perfect this weekend. Still, I felt good at the end of the race, so I’m looking forward to Malaysia with confidence.”
