Dovizioso delighted with fourth on grid

JiR Scot Honda's rookie rider has finished in the top five for the last three races and has been in the top eight at all but two of this year's Grands Prix so far, but has invariably had to charge through the field after middling qualifying performances.

But in Germany Dovizioso managed to take fourth place, and hopes it can be the springboard for an even better showing on race day.

"I'm going to enjoy this Saturday, because it's usually very tense after qualifying on the third, fourth or fifth row," Dovizioso told Italia1 television.

"It's very important to start from the first or second row in MotoGP, because you can then go for it in the race and you don't have the pressure of having to race the first few laps at the maximum, when it's easy to make mistakes.

"I'm very happy because it's the first time that the feeling at the front stayed the same while using a race front tyre, so that allowed me to use the grip from the rear qualifying tyre. Besides that, we also have a good pace: the top guys run in the low 22s, while we run in the mid-to-high 22s. But by starting from the second row I think we have all to play for.

"This track is very peculiar: there are four braking points where you can overtake but they are all bunched up, so it's tough to overtake. So starting from the second row is really important. I'm delighted with this result."

Although Bridgestone-shod Casey Stoner took a dominant pole position, Dovizioso reckons the Michelin runners are in better shape now than they were in the warmer conditions of practice.

"Today's temperature is perfect for us Michelin riders," he said. "Yesterday it was too warm for us, and that's why we struggled more, and Bridgestone went better than today. Today everything was more level, and we'll be able to go for it more easily."