Andrea Dovizioso knew he could win the Motegi MotoGP race if he could line Marc Marquez up for a pass at Turn 11, as his Ducati was performing much better on the brakes than the Honda.
The Italian made his way from ninth on the grid to the podium positions in a matter of four laps at the start of a wet Japanese Grand Prix, and proceeded to battle with championship leader Marquez for the entirety of the race.
Struggling with rear grip in the closing stages, the Italian knew his best chance at winning the race would be into the heavy braking zone of Turn 11 at the end of the lap, but was finding it difficult to close the gap to Marquez.
A small mistake from the Honda rider at Turn 8 allowed Dovizioso to close up and execute a pass at Turn 11, while fending off a last-gasp attack at the last corner to take his fifth win of the season.
“I was struggling a lot,” the Ducati rider, who now trails Marquez by just 11 points, said.
“He tried to push again in the last two laps, but maybe was over the limit. He did a mistake and I was able to catch him again, and I knew Turn 11 was my break.
“I knew I had to do everything perfect in two corners to be ready for Turn 11.
“That was already at the beginning of my race my strategy, but it was difficult because he was making really good laptimes.
“I was able to exit Turn 10 behind him and I brake so hard. My bike in the braking was better than his bike, but (still) remaining two corners, and there was Marc behind me.
“So I have to try to make a wide left corner and (that’s) what I did, and it was the right decision, because I close the door because for him it was very difficult to try to overtake.
“And when he did, he couldn’t change direction very fast.”
Dovizioso admitted battling with Marquez is always risky, as the Spaniard is willing to be as aggressive as possible to win, but knew the importance of this result in his bid for the 2017 title.
“It was so exciting to win this race,” he said.
“I mean, to fight with Marc, always you have a big danger, and it was important for the championship.
“So, we know it’s very difficult to beat him in the championship, but like I say on Thursday we will try until the end and we will see if it will be enough.”
