---
title: "Phillip Island layout worked against Ducati, says Dovizioso"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/10/22/phillip-island-layout-worked-against-ducati-says-dovizioso/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-10-22T14:28:59Z"
modified: "2017-10-22T14:28:59Z"
---

# Phillip Island layout worked against Ducati, says Dovizioso

Andrea Dovizioso has blamed his potentially MotoGP championship-ending poor form at Phillip Island on Sunday on the track’s layout not suiting his Ducati.

The 31-year-old was left bereft of confidence after a fast crash at MG corner during final practice on Saturday, which stopped him from qualifying higher than 11th.

![Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/10/864217856.jpg)

Confident in being able to fight through the pack and battle with championship rival Marc Marquez, Dovizioso‘s afternoon got off to a poor start when he ran wide at the Doohan corner on lap two – though he does not consider this to be the main detrimental factor to his race.

Plummeting to 20th, the Italian could only get as high as 11th after nine laps, and soon ran into grip issues with his medium rear tyre as his Ducati struggled to turn through Phillip Island’s numerous long corners.

Dovizioso was out-dragged by both Dani Pedrosa and Ducati stablemate Scott Redding on the Pramac GP16 to the line, leaving him a season-worst 13th, while title rival Marquez won to go 33 points clear in the standings.

“Very bad result, for sure, especially for the championship,” [the Ducati rider told Autosport.com.](https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/132562/lack-of-pace-caused-poor-result--dovizioso)

“My mistake on the second lap created a bad situation, but the reality is not that. The reality is we weren’t fast.

“The characteristic of this track is to have good turning, we confirm we still have that limit.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/10/864920440.jpg)

“We finished the tyres eight laps to the end, but all that is a consequence (of poor cornering).

“We did really good races this year at tracks where we weren’t fast in the past, but this track has a particular characteristic and the turning is so important.

“But anyway, we want to think positive for the remaining two races.

“We know fighting for the championship will be very difficult, but fortunately in this sport it can happen.”

Compatriot Valentino Rossi – who finished second on his Yamaha – believes Sunday’s result was effectively a non-score for Dovizioso, and thinks his gap to Marquez in the standings is too large to claw back now.

“Today was like 25-0, so is a big problem for Dovi because now the advantage is so big and (there are) just two races (to go),” said Rossi.