VOLUME 57 ISSUE 39 SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 P73
The Suzuki men came home in front of fourth-
placed Morbidelli, with Pramac Ducati's Jack
Miller hanging on as the lead Ducati rider in fifth
ahead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia, LCR
Idemitsu Honda's Takaaki Nakagami, Danilo Pe-
trucci, last round's winner Maverick Vinales in a
dismal ninth and Cal Crutchlow gritting his teeth
from the pin of his injured arm and left ankle he
sprained on Thursday in his pit garage.
The race proved crucial for two veteran
Italians who can all but kiss their title hopes
goodbye. Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso was
taken out at the second corner after Johann
Zarco (Ducati) crashed while trying to avoid
Petrucci, the chain reaction seeing Zarco and
Dovizioso tumbling through the gravel trap and
Dovi himself out of the title lead.
Rossi was lying a comfortable second be-
hind Quartararo and looking good to seal his
200th premier class podium before he, too,
fell at turn two late in the race.
IIIMY OWN RACE:
04 ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
DNF MOTOGP
"Crashing out at the second corner is
always difficult to digest, and I'm sorry for
how the race went today," Dovizioso said.
"I had focused on making a good start,
and at the end of the straight, I managed
to recover several posi ons. Unfortunate-
ly, I got involved in an accident on the first
lap, which was the result of a normal race
dynamic. The championship is poten ally
s ll open but, if we want to challenge for
the tle, now more than ever, we need to
return to the levels of compe veness to
which we are used to."
46 VALENTINO ROSSI
DNF MOTOGP
"It's a great shame, two mistakes in a
row," Rossi said. "This was a very differ-
ent crash from last week. In Misano we
did something different on the bike, and
technically I was not very strong. I didn't
feel very good, also on Saturday and
Sunday I was not 100 percent me. This
weekend was very different, because I
was always compe ve. I was good on
the bike, I rode well, and I also improved
prac ce by prac ce. This is very good.
Today I was at the limit, because I was
behind Fabio and I didn't want to lose a
lot, I wanted to stay with him. On the le
is always dangerous, especially with a low
temperature, and I lost the front. It's a
great shame because I think I could have
fought for the victory and for sure for the
podium, that was our target."
(Top left) Dovi's crashed Ducati could be a
symbol for his 2020 title chances. (Above) The
title is all but gone for Valentino Rossi now.
(Left) Alex Rins charged through late in the
race to dispose of Jack Miller (43).
