As we approach mid-season, Dovizioso seems to have found an impressive cruising speed since, by climbing the Mugello Grand Prix podium on 15 July, it was his fourth podium of the season. Whereas, in front, Lorenzo took the lead and did not let go, Andrea Dovizioso gave a fantastic start, briefly clinching second place before battling it out ferociously with the young German Stefan Bradl for the third step of the podium. Taking advantage of all his experience and encouraged by some 65,000 enthusiastic tifosi, the Italian rider passed Bradl shortly before the arrival, crossing the line with a lead of 46 hundredths of a second.
The other Yamaha Tech3 rider, Cal Crutchlow, also engaged in a difficult duel with Valentino Rossi who has bagged nine wins in Mugello and so really deserves his nickname of 'King of Mugello'. Both took advantage of Nicky Hayden's mistakes in the last lap and finished fifth and sixth. Impressed by the former world champion, Crutchlow was to say: 'His knowledge of this track is unparalleled and his regularity is incredible. I was faster than him in the last sector but he was incredible in his braking and didn't leave me any chance.'
Meanwhile Hervé Poncharal is on cloud nine: 'Podiuming in four out of five of the last races is something of a dream for us. We owe it to Andrea and his team who are doing fantastic work. This kind of result is very difficult to obtain and Andrea's success gives us a tremendous boost'.
For the next round, the teams will cross the Atlantic to meet at the Laguna Seca circuit on 27 July.
Standings
01// Jorge Lorenzo - Yamaha - 185 pts
02// Dani Pedrosa - Honda - 166 pts
03// Casey Stoner - Honda - 148 pts
04// Andrea Dovizioso - Yamaha Tech3 - 108 pts - Motul
05// Cal Crutchlow - Yamaha Tech3 - 95 pts - Motul
Photo credit: Stan Perec
