Cycle News

Cycle News Issue 23 June 13, 2017

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/836037

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MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 7 / JUNE 9-11, 2017 CIRCUIT DE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA / CATALONIA, SPAIN P66 BY MICHAEL SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE A week, they say, is a long time in politics. A tenth of a second is a long time in grand prix racing. And eight days? All the same, for Ducati and Andrea Dovizioso. That's just how long it took to climb onto the top step of the podium—twice. Heat and tires were helped by a worn-out track to continue playing havoc with predictability in MotoGP 2017. While the Ducati's sheer speed and Dovi's calm competence lifted him to second in the championship, the formerly dominant Maverick Vinales had a dire weekend. The Movistar Yamaha top dog only just made it into the top 10, losing ninth place on the last lap to down-table Ducati rider Hector Barbera (Avintia Ducati). All the while, defending champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) could hardly stop falling over. He crashed four times on Friday and Saturday, then tripped himself up in pit lane on Sunday morning before falling again in warm-up. Doubtless it is the mark of a great rider that when it mattered he stayed wheels down, and saved 20 points with a wor- thy second place. These are indeed heady days for Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati. His Catalunya win was just as impressive as his Italian GP win a week prior. When You're Hot, You're Hot! ANDREA DOVIZIOSO MADE IT TWO WINS IN TWO WEEKS IN MOTOGP AT CATALUNYA. ARE WE SEEING THE EMERGENCE OF DOVI AS A REAL TITLE THREAT?

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