Dovizioso confident for the race

The JiR Team Scot Honda rookie, whose seventh spot in qualifying did not satisfy him completely, reckons he won't be able to match the race pace shown by rivals Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi, with the trio starting the race from the first row.

"I was hoping to start from the second row, but for just one position I didn't make it," Dovizioso told TV channel Italia1. "In any case we managed to improve a bit, I was worried about qualifying.

"We are in quite good shape for the race, I think we still have some margin. However Lorenzo, Valentino (both on Fiat Yamaha) and Pedrosa (on Repsol Honda) have a really quick pace."

The young Italian believes that his lack of experience is not a problem at the Estoril track because of the lack of quick turns, which have previously caused him chatter problems.

"I don't have much experience, so the more I get the more I learn," he said.

"I think this track has helped me a bit because there are no fast sweepers. My big problem with qualifying tyres was chatter, with a not-so-good feeling at the front. It isn't at its best now, but with the very slow turns you don't have problems with chatter."