Andrea Dovizioso has admitted he will not change his approach at this weekend’s German Grand Prix, as he seeks to secure the best result to maintain the championship lead he took at Assen.
Dovizioso’s back-to-back victories in Italy and Barcelona, and a fifth at the Dutch TT with Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales crashing out, put him four points clear of the rest in the standings heading to the Sachsenring.
This is the first time in the Italian’s career he has led the premier class standings, and in the process becomes the first Ducati rider to do so since Casey Stoner in 2009.
Remaining cautious of considering himself an out-and-out championship contender after his two wins, Dovizioso maintains he has always raced with the title in mind and looks to carry that form on at the Sachsenring.
“It gives me great satisfaction to arrive in Germany as leader of the championship,” said Dovizioso.
“But it won’t change my way of racing because, even in the past, I’ve never race for each individual result, always with one eye on the championship.
“We will try and do a good job here in Germany to get the best possible result in Sunday’s race.”
Team-mate Jorge Lorenzo has his sights set on continuing the improvements he has made in adapting to the Desmosedici prior to last weekend’s Dutch TT, which proved to be the Spaniard’s worst race of the season.
Lorenzo struggled with Michelin’s wet tyres in the damp qualifying session and could only manage a career-worst 21st on the grid.
Having struggled also in the dry on his GP17 at the Dutch circuit, Lorenzo failed to make any major impact on the top 10 as he came through the order before switching to his second bike when the rain fell, which dropped him to a lapped 15th.
The Sachsenring has undergone a resurfacing this year, which Lorenzo feels will be to the benefit of himself and Ducati.
“After a difficult weekend at Assen, I can’t wait to arrive at the Sachsenring to resume the positive trend we demonstrated in the races before the Dutch GP,” he said.
“The German track has a new surface and I’m pleased about that because for sure it’ll help us have better grip.
“We will have to see immediately what the tyre wear is like on the new surface, but in any case the most important thing for me will be to find a positive feeling with the bike again and get back to being competitive.”
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