Three rounds into the 2020 MotoGP season, it’s been nothing short of a disaster so far for Ducati’s MotoGP cohort.
Its regular title hope Andrea Dovizioso has been by far the worst off from a disappointing start to what should have been a dream: a season where he didn’t have Marc Marquez to beat.
Instead, he’s taken a single podium finish out of three rounds, lies 28 points off championship leader Fabio Quartararo, and finished the Czech Grand Prix – at a track where he was the pre-season favourite – in a distant 11th place.
“It looks like Tardozzi is the person who decides my future, but it’s not like that” :: Andrea Dovizioso
And, with Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi saying today that the Italian’s future not only with the factory but indeed in MotoGP as a whole looks set to be decided after the upcoming two rounds at the Red Bull Ring, it’s now or never to find an improvement in form.
Dovizioso was given a ray of hope coming into the weekend, too, with the news that Michelin would bring its special high-temperature rear tyre and its old-style construction, reverting from the new and improved 2020 design that Dovizioso has so far pinned all of his problems on.
However, after an abridged opening day of action at the Red Bull Ring, in which rain meant only a handful of laps were completed in afternoon practice, Dovizioso remains unconvinced about whether he’s found the solution he was hoping for, even if it is only a temporary stopgap.
Finishing the day’s action second overall on combined times behind Pol Espargaro, Dovizioso was not content with stepping back to go forwards – crediting his speed to Ducati’s traditional strengths at the Styrian circuit (where it’s unbeaten in the modern era) and a change in riding style rather than the tyre.
“The rear tyre is not like the tyre of last year,” he said.
“Every time we come to Austria, Michelin adapted the casing of the season to suit the race because the consumption is really high. They have to make some changes to remain consistent and to finish the race.
“But the situation is the same and the way you have to ride is the same as at the other tracks, except here the circuit helps us to be a little faster because it’s good for our bike.
“We studied a lot after Brno and we’ve approached the weekend with some small changes to the set-up of the bike.
“I’ve changed how I brake on the bike as well and that has helped me to come back to the feeling I have, and that is the strong point.
“It was a good feeling and that helps, because most of the braking is in a straight line. I was able to be consistent and to have good [race] pace as well as [single-lap] speed.
“I have a big chance this weekend to be a contender. After one practice there are four of us with the pace to win, but one session is nothing and if it’s dry tomorrow for sure things will change.”
He was also quick to dismiss Tardozzi’s comments as well, saying: “It looks like Tardozzi is the person who decides my future, but it’s not like that. He is not the guy who will take that decision.”
Things were more upbeat in the next door Ducati garage, with Pramac’s Jack Miller happy with his day’s work and with the switch back to the older style of tyre as well as being able to run in considerably cooler conditions after high temperatures at both Jerez and Brno.
“It seems like everything is matching up, but we saw today that as soon as the others are comfortable with the bike they can go faster than me” :: Johann Zarco
“It immediately felt better from the first lap,” he said.
“For sure the tyres are one factor, but the surface also helps us because there’s more grip and we suffer when there’s a little bit less grip.
“That was one of the key things to take away from last week, and there shouldn’t be any issues here with that.”
It was a somewhat more subdued day for Brno polesitter and podium finisher Johann Zarco, finishing off the day in sixth overall.
Still working on adapting his riding style to the Avintia Ducati after racing a Yamaha, a KTM and a Honda within the past 18 months, he says he can’t tell if he’s taking the same benefit as the other Desmosedici riders yet.
“At the moment I still have to learn on the Ducati, and everything came to me well in the Czech Republic,” said Zarco.
“It seems like everything is matching up since the pole position, but we saw today that as soon as the others are comfortable with the bike they can go faster than me.
“I can’t say if the new tyre is working or not because I’m still improving myself and trying to find how to perfectly control the bike on braking.
“But I feel like lap after lap I can do better, so we will see.”
