Following on from last Sunday's splendid win at Mugello where Andrea Dovizioso achieved a truly historic feat by scoring the first victory by an Italian rider on an Italian bike in a grand prix held in Italy since 1974, the Ducati rider is gearing up for the seventh round of the season, scheduled for this weekend at the Montmeló circuit on the outskirts of Barcelona in Spain.
A long straight and numerous overtaking points make the Catalan circuit one of the most spectacular on the calendar and the Gran Premi de Catalunya always attracts a massive crowd.
Dovi finished last year's event here in seventh place but with the modified layout, he was back here two weeks ago for a two-day test at the Catalan circuit, picking up a series of interesting indications for the GP in weather and track conditions that should not be very different from those expected this weekend.
The modifications see the track now use a new chicane after Turn 13, similar to the Formula 1 race: in addition, the gravel run-off areas have been increased and the artificial grass has virtually disappeared.
“After a fantastic win at Mugello I'm second overall in the championship standings, but I don't exactly know what to expect from the Barcelona race,” he said. “This year every weekend seems to be a different story, and in the test two weeks ago here at Montmelò I was still missing something in the way of feeling. Obviously however we are very excited after the win in the Italian GP and this will help us for sure, even though it will only be during the weekend that we will be able to understand our true potential.”
