Marc Marquez says he “expected” Andrea Dovizioso to be his main opponent for victory in the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix, just as he was one year ago.
Marquez and Dovizioso engaged in a titanic duel at the Red Bull Ring last year which culminated in a final-corner showdown, with the Ducati rider coming out on top.
The Honda rider revealed his strategy was to fight with just one of the Ducatis, and admits he expected it to be Dovizioso – who was just 0.002 second slower than him in qualifying – and not eventual winner Jorge Lorenzo.
“I try to change my strategy, try to push in the beginning, because the goal was to try to arrive in the end with only one Ducati because a fight with Ducati is always difficult for us,” said Marquez.
“We achieve our goal, that was to fight against one Ducati. I expected after [looking at] the [race] rhythm it would be Dovi, but this time it was Jorge, but even like this I was there, but I say immediately 'I need to try, because I am Marc and I need to try', but every short straight he was able to overtake me, to be parallel, and it was really difficult to defend.
“I try to lead the race in the last lap. I lead on the main straight, he overtake me, then I try in Turn 3, I lost the two tyres, I go in too fast and nearly crash. I stayed on the bike, I don't know why, but I stayed there.
“He overtook me on the acceleration on the outside because he carry more speed, but if he didn't overtake me there he would have between Turn 8 and 9.”
Expanding on his race tactics, Marquez – who now leads the standings by 59 points – explained his decision to be the only one of the top three to run the “safest” hard tyre was so he could “just push” in the early stages in order break up a pack race.
“Today it was difficult to choose the tyre, I was between medium and hard, but then I say 'Ok, I will choose the safe option for me', because I know the hard should last better in the end for the race.
“Why I choose the hard, because my strategy was just to push from the beginning, just push, just try to make a small group for the last laps, and the goal was this: just arrive with one Ducati in the end.
“I know if I have the hard – the rhythm was good – they need to use the tyre because they need to follow me.
“They use, but Jorge managed really well, he deserves this victory. But the important thing is 59 [points lead], 71 [over Lorenzo], 72 [over Dovizioso].”
