Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Andrea Dovizioso unhappy with eighth

Italian rookie Andrea Dovizioso was unhappier finishing nearly seconds behind Jerez winner Dani Pedrosa than he was at losing three places in a dramatic final corner.

The JIR Scot rider had produced a brilliant performance to surge through from 16th at the end of the first lap into the top five by lap 20.

He then got embroiled in the titanic scrap with Loris Capirossi, James Toseland and John Hopkins before surrendering three places at the final corner.

In trying to out-brake Toseland to claim fifth, Dovizioso ran wide and also pushed the Tech 3 Yamaha rider out wide. That gifted Capirossi fifth and after a further tangle with Toseland on the exit, Dovizioso was beaten in the drag to the finish line by Kawasaki rider Hopkins.

Speaking to MCN after his 100th race, the former world 125 champion said: “I am not very happy. The biggest problem more than contact with James or being in eighth position is to be 30 seconds off the lead.

“I need to improve my qualifying and also I made a big mistake on the start and then on the first lap I made a big slide. There are many things not to be happy about with that race.”