Andrea Dovizioso followed up his previous two qualifying performances with another superb run at Silverstone today. The Ducati Team’s Italian rider took second place on the grid for the third GP in a row and will start from the front row for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix. Cal Crutchlow could only manage fifteenth fastest time and will start from row 5.

Dovizioso, who has been quick since Friday morning, also finished this morning’s free practice session in second place, a result that guaranteed him automatic access to Q2. Crutchlow’s day was a lot more difficult, as he could only finish fifteenth in FP3 and in the combined standings. As a result the Coventry rider had to take part in Q1, but he was unable to go any higher than fifth place in that session.

In Q2 Dovizioso immediately notched up an excellent time on his first exit and then waited for the final part of the session to go out on track again, this time setting a time of 2’01.140, three-tenths off the mark recorded by poleman Marquez. This is the fourth time this year that the Italian rider has qualified on the front row.


Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 2nd (2’01.140)

“It’s really great to be on the front row again! In the last few races we’ve gone very well in qualifying, and I knew I could also do a good lap here at Silverstone. But above all I’m happy with my race pace: we have always used the medium tyre, which is probably what everyone will be using tomorrow. I think that we’ll have a chance of doing a good race and of being closer to the leaders, which is always our aim. So far the weekend has been very positive: we’ll have to see what this strange weather will reserve for us tomorrow, but we’ve been working well and I am very satisfied!”

Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team #35) – 15th (2’03.407)

“Today was a very disappointing day, and to be so far down the starting-grid is not a good result. I didn’t have the best feeling with the rear tyre in the qualifying session, but I’ve been struggling throughout the weekend anyway here at Silverstone. We’ll have to try and improve in tomorrow’s warm-up because my bike has still got a lot of vibrations and not such good grip with the tyres. Hopefully we can find a solution for the race tomorrow.”

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