Derbi secures 125cc Constructors Title

Derbi secures 125cc Constructors Title

Technical hitch ends Dovizioso podium run

Monday, 18 October 2010

The Repsol Honda rider was the victim of a fault with his RC212V machine in Sunday's Iveco Australian Grand Prix, which forced him to retire from the race.

Having put together back-to-back podium finishes in Japan and Malaysia, Andrea Dovizioso approached Round 16 at Phillip Island in a confident mood but the Italian's weekend ended in the most frustrating of manners when he was forced to retire from the race with a mechanical problem.

Dovizioso made a solid start to the race and by the end of the opening lap had risen from his starting grid position of ninth to fifth place, but shortly after some stiffness with the steering of his RC212V meant the 24 year-old had no choice but to pit in. It was then that his Repsol Honda team discovered a problem with the steering damping mounting on his machine.

“It’s really a pity that I had to retire today because we had worked hard with the team and, after two difficult days of practice, today we had the pace to fight for third position and a podium finish,” said the disappointed Italian, who completed just three of the 27 laps of the race. “I made a good start and I was able to recover some positions. On the second lap I did a 1'31.7 without pushing too hard and I was fifth across the line.”

“In the first two laps though I felt the steering was stiff and on lap three this caused me to lose a lot of positions. I could control the bike but, although I completed another lap, it was too risky to keep riding and I had to come into the pits. There was a problem at the steering damper mounting - it had moved into an incorrect position, so now we will investigate the causes.”

Concluding, he added: “I’m really disappointed because after two great races in Japan and Malaysia, it was important to have a good race here to fight for third position in the Championship. Still, now we will look to get the best results possible in Estoril and Valencia.”

Dovizioso remains in fifth position in the overall standings, 26 points off third-placed Casey Stoner with two rounds to go.

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