---
title: "Dovizioso searching for front feeling in the wet"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/06/30/dovizioso-searching-front-feeling-wet/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-06-30T20:01:42Z"
modified: "2017-06-30T20:02:17Z"
---

# Dovizioso searching for front feeling in the wet

Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso says he is still searching for the front-end feeling he had last year in wet conditions, after finishing the rain-hit second practice at the German Grand Prix seventh.

The Ducati rider struggled somewhat in the damp conditions at Assen during qualifying, much to his confusion as the Desmosedici is typically strong in the wet.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/06/804327668.jpg)

Happy with his pace on the GP17 in the dry morning session, in which he was fastest by 0.038 seconds with a 1m21.599s, Dovizioso was not as competitive as hoped when the heavens opened in the afternoon.

The Italian was able to work on improving the bike to better suit him in the wet, and was able to set quicker lap times towards the end of the session, but admits more work is still to be done heading into Saturday’s running.

“In general today was a positive day,” said Dovizioso.

“I’m very pleased with the way we started this morning and in the dry we confirmed the positive trend of the last few races.

“In the afternoon, on a wet track, we struggled a bit like the start of the session at Assen and so we still have to work a bit there.

“At any rate we managed to improve during the session and in the end, when I pushed hard, I was lapping just like the fastest riders but I still don’t have the feeling at the front that I had last year.”

![](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/06/09SACHSEN17AVINTIA-7767-1.jpg)

Fellow Ducati rider Hector Barbera, riding the Avintia-backed GP16, ended the wet second session fastest of all, pipping Honda’s Marc Marquez to top spot with a 1m28.115s.

Barbera could well face Q1 on Saturday if rain arrives for third practice, as he ended the morning session 14th, admitting he may not have been aggressive enough during his time attack.

Nevertheless, the Avintia rider felt comfortable on his Desmosedici in both the wet and dry conditions, and praised the Sachsenring’s new tarmac.

“We started well because we had the opportunity to ride in the dry and in the wet and the sensations have been good in both conditions,” said Barbera, who qualified on the front row at the Sachsenring in 2016.

“We were seven tenths of a second behind in the dry and we finished way back in the time sheets, but once again, all the times are very close together.

“Tomorrow, more rain is expected and it was important to put in a fast lap on a dry tarmac to make it to QP2 directly, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“Maybe I didn’t take enough risks or I didn’t find the right moment to attack, but I am still happy with what we achieved.

“On a wet track in the afternoon, I immediately had a good feeling. I was within the top five all the time and in the end I was fastest. I really like the new tarmac, the grip is good in wet and in dry conditions.”