Dovizioso: 'It wasn't a safe move'

NICKY Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso were called to Race Direction after the race at the Indianapolis Grand Prix due to a move by Hayden which saw both of the Factory Ducati's jump over the curbing at the exit of the last corner.

Hayden and Dovizioso finished ninth and tenth respectively yesterday after contact had been at the last corner allowing Britain’s Bradley Smith to finish eighth in front of the two Factory Ducati's.

The two Factory Ducati riders have been evenly matched all season so far and in previous races they've been seen to collide before such as in the US Grand Prix where Dovizioso swerved into his team mate's path to take the racing line.

Hayden explained: “…I was just racing with Dovi, and he really pushes and doesn't many many mistakes. We went back and forth a lot, and then in the last corner on the last lap, we had contact, which was my fault. When the door started to close, I was already committed and didn't want him to take out my front wheel.”

Although Hayden admitted it was his fault, the Italian wasn't impressed: “…the race became a strategic battle between Nicky and me. I'm fairly pleased with how I managed my race because I was able to pass him back on the final lap, but in the last corner, he wanted to get by me at any cost, using a really aggressive manoeuvre.

 “I didn't expect it because I hadn't left the door open. Nicky came beside me and we touched, and it certainly wasn’t a safe move, but we can say it was a racing incident. We were called to Race Direction because of course it’s important to talk about these things and immediately clear them up.

“Honestly, I’m quite annoyed to have lost two positions, and I also wanted to keep Smith behind me. Still, there’s no sense in creating controversy in a situation like this, so for me it’s over.”

Ducati MotoGP Project Direcor Paolo Ciabatii said: “Nicky and Andrea talked afterward to clean things up, and there was no controversy.”

In Dovizioso's first year with Ducati, he is currently seventh in the World Standings, two places ahead of his team mate Nicky Hayden who lies in ninth.