2011 MotoGP
With 10 of 18 races complete in the 2011 MotoGP Championship, Andrea Dovizioso is third in the point standings, 60 behind the leader, teammate Casey Stoner.
The Italian earned points in every round, including four podiums. Dovizioso has remained consistent in 2011 MotoGP, and is very optimistic about the second half of the season, which convenes at Brno Aug. 12-14.
Following is a mid-season interview conducted by Repsol Honda:
Q. What are your plans for these free days?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "Family holidays, five days in Sardinia, resting at the beach with my family and my friends to relax and gather energy for Brno."
Q. Are you satisfied with your third overall position?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "With the third position, yes, but not with the difference to Casey (Stoner) and Jorge (Lorenzo). Fifty points are too many, but there is nothing impossible."
Q. What is your assessment of this first half of the MotoGP season?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "I want to see the positive side and we are third of the championship, I had never been so strong in all races as this year. So I am very happy with the job of the team and of the feeling of the bike, but naturally, our aim is to fight for the championship and right now, we are not competitive enough to set up an strategy to do it. Anyway, we are well placed in the championship and there are still eight races ahead, so we have to believe. We will see which result we get in the end."
Q. We have seen you in the second and third steps of the MotoGP podium. What does Andrea Dovizioso need to fight for victory?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "It is very difficult because the level is very high. Lorenzo is having a great season, Casey [Stoner] is very strong and Dani [Pedrosa], when he is in good form, sets the difference. It is really very difficult to try and beat them. I mean, beating all of them at the same time, because sometimes one and sometimes the other is in front."
Q. Which MotoGP race do you prefer of the rounds held with Repsol Honda until now?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "I think the Mugello race this year was beautiful. To ride in Mugello, fighting for victory and achieving the second position after a battle in front of the Italian fans was something important. Feeling their support was such a great feeling that I will always remember it."
Q. If you could go back in time, is there a decision of the ones you took during the first half of the MotoGP season, both out or in a race, that you would change?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "No. I think that we have achieved the maximum we could do with what we had, except in Laguna Seca, where the max was to be fourth and we did not get it. But until then I did all I could. It is not enough, because we want to fight for the Championship, but I believe we could do nothing more."
Q. How do you see Pedrosa, Stoner and Lorenzo at this moment and what do you think it can happen in the fight for the MotoGP title between Stoner and Lorenzo?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "It will undoubtedly be very difficult to reduce the distance to Lorenzo and Casey, because when they go well, they win, and if not, they are on the podium. It is very difficult, but I want to believe in my chances and we will see. I think Dani is in a better situation, because he has less pressure and he is very fast, so he can fight for victory in all races."
Q. Of the MotoGP races left, which one you are most looking forward too?
Andrea Dovizioso says: "Probably Malaysia. The Sepang circuit is one of my favorite tracks. It is amazing to ride there with a MotoGP bike."
