The Grand Prix of Australia's MotoGP race saw Andrea Dovizioso as one of the main characters of a thrilling race, which was full of overtaking, underlining the character of the battling rider from JiR Team Scot.

From the start just metres from the off Andrea was forced wide and off the track, rejoining in last place. From there came his inexorable fight-back, reaching – in just a few laps – the group battling for fourth place. Together with Shinya Nakano, Jorge Lorenzo and James Toseland positions were exchanged several times and when in front Andrea tried to gap his pursuers.

But, just ten laps from the end, the tyres, which had been worked hard during the comeback, began to lose grip. A few corners from the finish, an aggressive move from Toseland meant that Andrea was forced to go wide, eventually coming home behind the Briton in seventh position. The race has highlighted the excellent performance of Andrea, who was close to chasing a podium position once more.

The championship standings see the JiR Team Scot rider firmly in fifth place.

Gianluca Montiron – Director – JiR Team Scot

"Andrea's stubborn never-say-die attitude showed strongly in that race. It's a shame the start was affected by a situation that can happen in racing, when there are many riders together, but he made an excellent comeback but sadly we lost the opportunity of a fourth-place finish on the last lap. In the championship we are still fifth, with a gap of fourteen points on Nicky Hayden, who has a technical advantage over us, so it will be challenging in the last two races to defend our position."

Andrea Dovizioso – 7th position, 4th- best time: 1'30 "585

"I feel I made a tremendous race. If I had not had to recover from last after being pushed off the track at the start, we could have had a podium. At the start I kept on the left for the first turn, Lorenzo was almost alongside me and then he moved outside. This resulted in me finishing on the grass. From here I started a great comeback, even if in those first laps I could not push 100%, but instead I followed Valentino Rossi who also had the pace to gain positions. With Lorenzo we could have moved towards third position, but Toseland was too aggressive and a little dangerous while fighting for the lead of the group. The last ten laps the tyres were finished and I was not able to push anymore. At one of the corners, I had to go wide to avoid Toseland, who I was lining up to overtake, but because of this Nakano made it past us both. I am sorry to have lost the fourth place because it was a reality today."

Cirano Mularoni – Team Manager – JiR Team Scot

"A hard fought race in which fourth was a result that reflected the true value of Andrea today. If the start was better we might have battled with the leaders and then tried to keep an advantage over those behind, but it was a good comeback from Andrea and a difficult one given the technical packages he was up against. Either way, Andrea put in a good performance today.”

© CAPSIS International