Andrea Dovizioso and Tech 3 podium for the second time!

After his previous Grand Prix disappointment at Silverstone, where a fall deprived him of a result, Andrea Dovizioso enjoyed success again by climbing the podium once more, at the Assen circuit on 30 June. It’s the second time he has managed to achieve such a position, having clinched his first podium of the season at Catalunya, at the beginning of June. For Tech3, the weekend was largely positive since Cal Crutchlow finished 5th after a difficult race during which he was hindered by his ankle injury suffered by a fall in the trials at Silverstone.

He also lost time at the start by leaving the track to avoid Bautista and Lorenzo who were in the process of falling, the former having collided with the latter in the first turn. From the back of the pack he then battled superbly through the ranks, a performance for which he has the knack. Meanwhile, Dovizioso devoted most of the race to confrontation with Ben Spies, the Yamaha factory driver. The Italian managed his race and his tyres remarkably well, lying in ambush behind the American driver to deal him the final blow in the last lap. ‘This podium has special value, emphasised Dovizioso, because I’d never felt comfortable on this track but, with the Yamaha YZR-M1, I feel more at ease. I wish to thank all my team because they did a fantastic job. We worked a lot to be competitive and our strategy has paid off.’

For Hervé Poncharal, team manager, ‘After seven races we are only 35 points behind the official Yamaha team in the team Championship. This confirms the incredible support we’re receiving from Yamaha, and also Andrea’s and Cal’s fantastic work.’ July will be busy, with a race on 8 July at the Sachsenring, then a week later at Mugello before leaving for Laguna Seca in the United States on 29 July.

Standings
01 / Jorge Lorenzo - Yamaha - 140 pts
02 / Casey Stoner - Honda - 140 pts
03 / Dani Pedrosa - Honda - 121 pts
04 / Cal Crutchlow - Yamaha Tech3 - 77 pts - Motul
05 / Andrea Dovizioso - Yamaha Tech3 - 76 pts - Motul

Photo credit: Stan Perec