Just a month ago this Sunday, at Silverstone, Andrea Dovizioso announced that he was going to get off the bike for the weekend of the San Marino Grand Prix , and the Italian rider has therefore played his last race in MotoGP today, supported by a large number of fans and friends, who wanted to accompany Dovi in his last dance after more than two decades in the championship, the last 15 years in the queen class.
A last race that turned out to be one of the best of the season for him, in fact 12th place is his second best record of the course.
“The weekend has been crazy and the truth is that I didn’t expect people to support me in such a crazy way,” Dovizioso said at the end of the race and after dozens of friends waited for him at the back of the box with a commemorative shirt and flags with 04.
“I’m very happy, I couldn’t feel better right now. My decision to stop in Misano was the right one”, reflected the Italian, who from the next race, in Aragon, will be replaced by the British Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha tester.
Precisely, the runner wanted to highlight the fact that the Japanese manufacturer allowed him to finish the season early and receive this tribute.
“Thanks to Yamaha and the sponsors, and also to the team for allowing me to do it.”
An ending that, surely, was not the one Dovizioso dreamed of when a few years ago he was a race winner and contender for the title, but that in the current circumstances he took for granted.
“It was perfect. The race was like always, I’m not able to be fast at the beginning, I’m not able to stop the bike”, he assessed.
“I couldn’t keep up with the leading group, but from the middle of the race to the end I was able to go faster than my pace in training, until the last lap”, crossing the finish line 12th, in the points.
“So I was able to play a bit with the riders behind and I was able to keep my position. But it also had an influence that many riders crashed,” he recalled.
“12th is a good position for me. I wanted to make a top 10 but I couldn’t”, he resigned himself.
Despite the festive and emotional atmosphere in Dovizioso’s box, the rider kept a cool head at all times.
“In the race and at the end I was still rational,” he said when asked if he felt any emotion going to the checkered flag. “So, I didn’t have any weird emotions. You’re tired, but this is not the time to get excited.”
“There is no need to do anything crazy before the race, especially because of the way I have to approach it. There was no problem in containing the emotions.
Despite the fact that this Sunday is his last race and the idea was never to get on a MotoGP again, Yamaha has asked the Italian to take part in the next test, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, at this same circuit. The Italian will go out alone on Tuesday morning to test a few parts before hanging up his suit for good and focusing on the Italian motocross championship and a “secret” project that he will reveal before the end of the year.
Gallery: this was Andrea Dovizioso’s last race
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Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
