Spielberg (Austria) (AFP)

Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), who won the Austrian Motorcycle GP on Sunday, said the win was important even though Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda) still has a big lead in the world championship.

Q: Do you think Marc can still be caught in the championship?

A: "The championship is still in play because it is not finished, there are still many races (eight ed) but it's true that it does not change things much because Marc has shown his potential in many and it's even stronger than last year, it will be very difficult to beat him, but we are working to improve the bike and new parts will be coming soon, even though it's very difficult to beat Marc today. victory gives us a lot of energy for the future.We are struggling on some routes but today if we were not necessarily the fastest we have prepared well the race and it is very positive for me and for Ducati, we needed that win and won that way. "

Q: How did you win today?

A: "I left very aggressively but Marc too, when Marc overtook me he tried to dig a gap but his rear tire went down too fast and I was able to fight until the last corner because he did not have as much traction as me, especially on the right side of the tire, he was stronger on the braking but with my grip I was able to stay in touch and dare this crazy maneuver in the last corner. I was a little inside and I told myself that if I did not succeed I would be anyway second but I have placed the bike. "

Q: You gave during the race the feeling of "playing" with Marc Marquez, was it the case?

A: "No, because if I had the speed to finish detached I would have left behind, but if you go ahead with Marc, he brakes so hard that he can get inside and iron. grip right which allowed me to be faster in some turns and accelerate harder and I wanted to exploit this advantage. "

(Interviewed at a press conference)

jld / fs

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