Andrea Dovizioso high chances for 2011 championship – MotoGP news
Repsol Honda team rider Andrea Dovizioso has said that he has to work hard further to improve the times, as he performed in the first two test sessions.
The teammates Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa were the dominators on time charts, in tests held in February and the only riders to breach the two-minute barrier.
The third final pre-season test will be held at Qatar in the mid of March.
The Italian rider will start his third season with Repsol Honda team with the expanded number of team riders and looking forward to the incoming of Casey Stoner, who runs first season with HRC.
Dovizioso claims after the fast performance of his teammates that he has to run another test before concluding him as a contender for 2011 MotoGP Championship. Previously, Dovizioso has run better than top-fifth place in the last Sepang I-II tests.
He said, “I believe we can think about the Championship because we have many possibilities to get it. We did both Tests in the same circuit, so we need to know what will be the level in another track and the difference with the other rivals. I really think
that we have many chances to fight. We still have to improve in some areas and solve the problems with the front end, but I am confident we will be able to have a very good season. If we will be in the actual battle for the Championship, we still don’t know.”
In the view of Dovizioso, this season will be more interesting as compared to last few years, as Honda are the fast pace makers till yet.
As the pre-season test left the track, Hondas and Yamahas are the tough rival machines to compete this season and six riders are using these two manufacture’s machines, which will create a fast and close competition for championship.
He added, “We also need to take Valentino into account, as everyone knows how strong he is. About us, having three riders together in the HRC official team is important and it also gives us a lot of motivation. I had never seen such fast pre-season Tests
as the first and second sessions we had, where the riders improved their lap times a lot this means that they all want to be in front and is really motivating. It is also important because Honda will have the possibility to always be in the fight for the lead.”
Dovizioso feels that the bike is in a great state, claiming the undoubted power a key feature with a strong under braking. Some points which still need some improvement in the rear-end of RC212V comparatively, the front-end works great, and some rebound
yet to be solved.
Over all the traction is good. The bike is able to break hard, as the engine break has also improved significantly.
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