“What do you miss to win a race this season?” On Saturday, Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso was asked once again the same question. The Italian was the polesitter and he just wanted just to enjoy the positive momentum on the special Malaysian track, so dear to him, that he had to justify himself: “It’s never easy to win in MotoGP. We still miss something, from my side and also from the bike. we are not able to fight for the podium every weekend. We have been very close to the victory two times this season.”

The pressure from the media and the MotoGP paddock but also inside Ducati had become quiet unbearable considered also that his team mate Andrea Iannone had beaten him in Austria giving Ducati the first victory of the Gigi Dall’Igna era. Iannone was only at his second season while Dovi had gone through all the difficult moments since he joined the Italian Company four years ago. Will you be the 9th MotoGP winner? This question echoed since Misano. For Dovi it had become a sort of spell, an “obligation”.

Finally this time is over.  Dovizioso produced a superb performance at the rain-soaked Sepang International Circuit to take victory in the Malaysia Grand Prix, crowing a perfect weekend.

Started from the pole, Dovizioso was third at the end of lap one behind Rossi and Iannone. On lap 12, he passed Iannone and set off after Rossi, whom he passed on lap 15, winning the all italian duel Rossi vs Dovizioso. From then on he pulled out a small lead over the Yamaha rider to take the flag with a margin of more than three seconds on Rossi and almost 12 seconds on Jorge Lorenzo.  

The Italian had not won a race in MotoGP since Donington in 2009. Beloved and respected from everyone in the paddock, Dovizioso was congratulated from al the riders, starting from his future team mate Jorge Lorenzo: “He has worked hard and deserved this victory. It also good to see more Ducatis in front”, he stated.   
Thanks to this result Dovizioso moves up into fifth place in the world standing with 162 points.
 
First of all congratulations, you finally broke the spell...
“My last win dated back in 2009 so you can imagine all the suffering I have gone through in all these years. Yes, I got some good results but we are here to win and if you cannot make it, it becomes frustrating. It had became a nightmare especially for the MotoGP paddock and the world around it.  People were pointing at me at the next winner and every Sunday was a kind of defeat.

“The media was pushing hard too, I felt like I was obliged to win and this creates a lot of extra pressure. I’m the first to put pressure on myself, but I have a different perspective: of course I’m really happy, but I don’t aim at one single result. I want to be able to fight constantly for the top positions in order to try and clinch the world title. The championship is my target, especially if you are a factory rider.”

Pole position, fastest lap and victory. Was it the perfect weekend?
“From the outside it looked like I was controlling the race but it was difficult. In the first part of the race, when the track was completely wet I could push. I didn’t expect I could build such a margin on Valentino, because he is the kind of rider who never gives up. Then I saw on the pit board that I had +1.7 seconds of advantage so I could manage the race at the best. Ducati gave me a very good bike. I had a very good traction on the rear and I was able to keep the same speed  throughout the whole race. I’m really happy to win on this track. Malaysia is a special track for me, I have always been fast but I never claimed a victory here before.”

Did you expect such result?
“At the start of the race, I knew that everything could have happened. I didn’t want to think too much at the rain, because we cannot control it. I was confident  on my potential and I took the race in my style: a lap at the time.  I enjoyed every overtaking. I beat all the competitors, this is a unique feeling for me."

How did you feel on the last lap?
“On the last corner I saw my girlfriend and my friends completely frozen and they were crying.  I got very emotional that I started to cry. I cried in my helmet for the whole last lap. I didn’t see anything. I was remembering all the sacrifices and the suffering of the first years with Ducati. It’s a personal satisfaction.”  

You were very frustrated after the Austrian GP, does this win compensate a difficult season?
“We started well in Qatar but then we scored three dnfs in four races and not for my fault. It was a pity because the podium was handy I lost some many points. It’s a different story when you start the season with a good position in the world standing, because it boosts your motivation and you face the race in a different way. We also missed the victory in two occasions, but the most frustrating was in Austria. This was the worst moment. In Austria I felt very strong, I felt that that victory was mine. I rode in a perfect way but I made the wrong tyre choice and paid for it.”   

Is this the best moment of your career?
“Yes, maybe it’s my best momentum in my career and in my personal life. I’m 30 years old and I respect my character, which is a step by step approach. Sometimes the results do not come and you feel defeated, but I have to say that  I feel the support of Ducati. This victory arrives in the perfect moment because I’m the Ducati rider for the next two years and it’s great to start the new season with this result.

Was important to win this year also to prove something to Lorenzo?
“In a way yes, because you can be ahead in the championship but you haven’t won a race. So it’s the perfect timing now to clinch a win. What will Jorge do with Ducati? You need to wait two weeks.”

Your daughter Sara will be happy...
“Yes I look forward to see her. She is my first fan and I’m so proud of her. This time I can bring her the trophy with the number 1 on it. She always blames me if I don’t bring home a trophy.”  

Shall we expect a 10th winner in Valencia?
“Why not? We know it’s difficult but maybe it could be Aleix Espargaro, with him everything can happen…”