Marc Marquez blew easy MotoGP win in Argentina - Andrea Dovizioso
Andrea Dovizioso believes MotoGP title rival Marc Marquez threw away an "easy" win in last weekend's Argentine Grand Prix with his erratic riding
Marquez became embroiled in controversy at Termas de Rio Hondo, earning a ride-through penalty for illegal actions on the grid after stalling his bike and then getting into further trouble with the stewards for collisions with Aleix Espargaro and Valentino Rossi.
Rossi accused Marquez of deliberately riding into him and "destroying the sport", although the Honda rider insisted his attempt to pass for sixth was "nothing crazy".
Asked for his thoughts on the controversy, Dovizioso refused to comment directly, but did point out that Marquez's pace in Argentina meant the reigning champion should have been able to win easily.
"Marc managed things particularly badly, because when you are on a track where you are a second faster than everyone in all conditions, it should be easy to get the maximum result," he said.
"He did everything he didn't have to do."
Dovizioso finished a distant seventh on the road in Argentina, which became sixth after Marquez was handed a 30-second penalty, and the Italian lost the lead of the championship to race winner Cal Crutchlow.
He said the result confirmed that the Desmosedici still has weak tracks that could hinder Ducati's quest to win its first title in 11 years.
"We confirmed our downsides on the flyaway tracks, and we can't afford this if we want to fight for the championship, because there are too many competitive riders and you'll lose too many points," he said.
"The improvements we made this winter were not enough in this aspect.
"Austin [next race] is on paper not a favourable track, but I hope it is better than this.
"We have to see how the condition of the track is, because last year there were a lot of bumps, which were very annoying."
Suzuki targets Jorge Lorenzo for 2019 MotoGP season
Marquez wouldn't change riding that led to Rossi crash in repeat race
Bautista thinks MotoGP rumours distracted Razgatlioglu in WSBK
Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista believes talks of a potential MotoGP switch left Toprak Razgatlioglu distracted and compromised his start to the 2022 World Superbike Championship.
Marquez “will be professional” to the end of Honda MotoGP deal
Alex Marquez says he will remain “professional” through to the end of his Honda MotoGP contract with LCR despite recently admitting a loss of motivation at the team.
Retiring MotoGP ace Dovizioso "really didn't expect" Yamaha struggles
Retiring 15-time MotoGP race winner Andrea Dovizioso admits he "really didn't expect" to encounter the struggles he has in adapting to the Yamaha MotoGP bike.
2022 MotoGP title fight now “very tight”, says Aleix Espargaro
Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro believes the current MotoGP championship picture following the British Grand Prix has set up “a very, very tight” title battle.
The signs Quartararo’s 2022 MotoGP title is slipping away from him
Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. But a crash at Assen and the consequential penalty he had to serve last weekend at Silverstone stopped him from capitalising on a main rival’s injury woes, while a resurgence from another, plus the rise of a former team-mate, look set to conspire against the Yamaha rider
Why Marquez’s toughest MotoGP foe is stopping at the right time
On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso announced that he will be retiring from MotoGP after September’s San Marino GP. The timing of his departure raised eyebrows, but his reasoning remains sensible and what has happened this year should not diminish a hard-built legacy
Why a Suzuki refugee feels he deserves MotoGP's toughest challenge
Alex Rins’ MotoGP future was plunged into sudden doubt when Suzuki elected to quit the series at the end of 2022. Securing a deal with Honda to join LCR, he will now tread a path that many have fallen off from. But it was a move he felt his status deserved, and it’s a challenge – he tells Autosport - he faces with his eyes wide open…
How Formula 1 has driven MotoGP's changing nature
The hiring of technicians from Formula 1 has clearly contributed to a recent change in the MotoGP landscape, with the role of engineers gaining greater significance relative to the riders. Here's how this shift has come about
The revolution behind Aprilia's rise from MotoGP tail-ender to pack-leader
Coinciding with the arrival of Massimo Rivola as head of its MotoGP division, Aprilia has undergone an internal revolution that has spurred it from occupying last place in the team standings to leading the table in the space of just two years. Those entrenched in the project reveal how the ex-Ferrari F1 chief has achieved the dramatic turnaround
The battle Yamaha's wayward son is fighting to be fast again in MotoGP
Franco Morbidelli was long overdue a promotion to factory machinery when it finally came late last year, having finished runner-up in the 2020 standings on an old Yamaha package. But since then the Italian has been a shadow of his former self as he toils to adapt to the 2022 M1, and recognises that he needs to change his style to be quick on it
Why Honda and Yamaha have been left behind in MotoGP's new era
The once all-conquering Japanese manufacturers are going through a difficult period in MotoGP this season. With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. Key paddock figures explain why.
Who is Valentino Rossi’s newest MotoGP star?
Valentino Rossi’s protégés stole the show at Assen as Francesco Bagnaia stormed to victory to arrest a recent barren run. But it was the rider in second, on Bagnaia’s old bike, who had all eyes on him. Securing his and the VR46 team’s first MotoGP podium, Marco Bezzecchi has all the characteristics that made his mentor special