Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

What has changed as FOM and FIA appear more aligned on F1's future?

Feature
Formula 1
What has changed as FOM and FIA appear more aligned on F1's future?

Ex-F1 race director Wittich defends Masi's decision-making at 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

Formula 1
Abu Dhabi GP
Ex-F1 race director Wittich defends Masi's decision-making at 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

Bearman blames Colapinto for "unacceptable" crash at Suzuka

Formula 1
Japanese GP
Bearman blames Colapinto for "unacceptable" crash at Suzuka

Duke video archive: Macau 1990 watchalong with Anthony Davidson

General
Duke video archive: Macau 1990 watchalong with Anthony Davidson

Quartararo staying “a little bit out” of Yamaha development as frustrations grow

MotoGP
Quartararo staying “a little bit out” of Yamaha development as frustrations grow

Is it now or never for Russell in hunt for F1 title?

Feature
Formula 1
Is it now or never for Russell in hunt for F1 title?

Supercars to make Chevrolet Camaro updates after parity investigation

Supercars
Taupo Super 440
Supercars to make Chevrolet Camaro updates after parity investigation

Domenicali: F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year

Formula 1
Domenicali: F1 'needs to decide' on the next engine regulations this year

Dovizioso critical of Marquez's late lunge in Austria MotoGP race

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso has criticised Marc Marquez's aggressive last-corner lunge that almost denied him victory in MotoGP's Austrian Grand Prix

Dovizioso and Honda rider Marquez were locked in a head-to-head scrap for victory for much of the Red Bull Ring race, with Dovizioso taking the lead with seven laps remaining.

The pair ran line astern as they entered the final sequence of bends on the final lap, with Marquez trying a move around the outside exiting Turn 9 before barging past into the final corner.

The Spaniard narrowly avoided the Ducati rider as he ran out wide, and Dovizioso signalled his dissatisfaction at the move as he crossed the line.

"To win in the last corner is always different and special with Marc, because he is really good in the battle," said a reflective Dovizioso.

"But I had a strange feeling in the last corner, I was more angry than happy because he tried to overtake me in that way.

"I did this [gesture] instinctively, because that is not a corner to try to overtake a rider.

"But I know very well, and everybody know very well Marc, and I manage in the best way the last corner."

Dovizioso - who is now second in the points standings, 16 behind Marquez - said he could hear Marquez's engine through the final corners, which allowed him to anticipate the move.

"The last lap was very difficult for me, because I lose a lot in the two left corners, and it was easy for him to overtake me," he said.

"I didn't know he wasn't very close, so I closed the door and he caught me again.

"He had a chance to try in the last two corners, but the corner before last I braked very late and it was difficult for him.

"[At first] I didn't expect he'd try to overtake me because there's no space there, there's not a braking [zone].

"But I heard his engine - the corner before the last, he was allowed to open the throttle before me because he prepared the corner better than me, so I knew he wanted to try [to overtake.

"So I left the door open to try to exit faster."

Marquez 'forgot about the championship' during last-lap lunge

Points leader Marquez said he threw caution to the wind while attempting the final corner move on Dovizioso.

"On the last lap I was thinking about everything; the championship, I forgot a little bit," Marquez said.

"I was pushing 100%.

"I decided to go all-in because I knew victory was very important - but even a second place is important. Last year we struggled a lot here and this year we were much closer to the Ducatis.

"I arrived on the limit and I tried [to overtake] on the last corner, because if not, I cannot go to sleep [tonight], I have to try."

Previous article MotoGP Red Bull Ring: Dovizioso resists Marquez for Austria victory
Next article Yamaha MotoGP rider Rossi had to 'slow down a lot' in Austrian GP

Top Comments

Latest news