Dovizioso happy despite crash

The Italian rookie kept pace with the leaders until falling just after half-distance, and reckoned the speed he had demonstrated was more significant than his error.

"I did a very good race and this makes me happy," Dovizioso said. "I was able to maintain an astonishing rhythm and was half a second under my pace from the practice sessions.

"I never give up, as I want to try to stay with the lead group and get a good result for the team and myself.

"The crash was only because I was pushing at the very maximum, entering the corner so very hard and so I lost grip at the front. With my performance I don't think I can blame myself, these things happen."

His JiR Team Scot bosses also had no complaints about Dovizioso's ride.

"What Andrea did today in Portugal has to be considered a good day - despite the crash - as it shows he's able to stay with the top riders," said team director Luca Montiron.

"He showed skill and a lot of determination for more than half the race and with everyone riding in very tricky conditions he was able to display a rhythm that only the other three riders ahead were able to maintain.

"I'm sure this will be a race very important for the experience of Andrea in MotoGP and he was able to demonstrate a lot of character and determination to the other riders."

Team manager Cirano Mularoni agreed.

"From the start Andrea was able to maintain a good rhythm and stick with the leading group," he said. "At this point we had two chances: to try harder and go for the podium or maintain position and keep a safe fourth place.

"I agree with Andrea's tactics. He was always pushing, trying hard to get a big result and the crash is just something that has changed the names on the results sheet. Up until that point it was still a fantastic race for us."

Dovizioso added that the team now had to improve the bike's performance so that he didn't have to push so hard to stay with the leaders.

"To be behind the top three riders was a great experience and I understood and learned a lot of things," he said.

"We have to use at the maximum the potential of our Honda and find the correct chassis and engine tuning to keep this quick rhythm during whole race without being at the complete limit, which I was at today."