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MotoGP, Barcelona GP: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

What's better than a win at Mugello? Doing it again at Barcelona and ruining the Spaniards' party. The DD pairing is on a high

MotoGP: Barcelona GP: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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What's better than a win at Mugello? Doing it again at Barcelona and ruining the Spaniards' party. The DD pairing (Dovizioso-Ducati) has seen its value sky rocket during the last two races. Hard work pays off, even when the salary has recently come down. Dovi is now an Olympian of MotoGP and is here to stay.

Rossi and Vinales struggled, trying to find (different) solutions to their (common) problems. The Hondas are smiling, having reached the podium and Lorenzo celebrated with champagne in the garage despite having won the wooden spoon.

Happy ever after, for Mir and Alex Marquez too, victorious in Moto3 and Moto2. It wasn't an Italian triple on Spanish turf in the end but we don't mind.

THE GOOD – Two horses on his helmet, one representing grit and the other honesty. Andrea adds his right wrist (light) and brain (significant) and becomes something wonderful. He is congratulated by everyone, Stoner included, the ultimate reference for anyone who climbs on a Ducati. Dovizioso has proved that you don't have to come from the other side of the world to be able to ride it.

THE UGLY –  Those who leave the old path for the new find Zarco and Folger in front of them at the finish line. Valentino and Maverick were none too happy to experience this. The Italian blamed the frame, the Spaniard the tyres. The substance is the same while the solutions differ. We'll see who's right at Assen.

THE BAD – The safety campaign comes up against the cheque book. Easy to say, not so easy to do. At Barcelona they had come up with a low cost chicane rather than a suitable modification, then the GP organisers complained to Valentino as he has them spending money. It's easier to cry than to put your hand in your wallet.

THE DISAPPOINTMENT – Two GPs off the podium, despite coming close. Not a disaster but Franco Morbidelli had developed a taste for success in the early part of the season. It's not a thrashing but a gentle scolding.

THE CONFIRMATION  – Fast, constant, ludid, Joan Mir is an almost perfect rider, no wonder then that the Marc VDS battleship has taken him in Moto2 with an ironclad contract. For those who thought that the Spanish school was on its last legs.

THE MISTAKE – Rather than for the crash on worn tyres, Danilo Petrucci takes the yellow card for the move he made off the line. Nudging Marquez after having cut across the entire track was something to be avoided. Danilo apologised to Marc on Monday, we've already forgiven him.

THE SURPRISE  – Who would have guessed? Sylvain Guintoli started last, played catch-up and even passed Iannone, before losing ground in the final stages. Sorry, we've got that wrong, our Andrea stopped and waited for his part-time team-mate before racing to the line, outside of the points zone, to fulfil the 'it's not the winning, but the taking part that counts' spirit. No, it's not like that either, but however we put it, the surprise - the nasty surprise - is Iannone.

THE PASS - The flag goes to Mir for his two passes, on Fenati and Martin, on the final laps all’ultimo giro. Something for discerning palates.

THE INTERESTING FACT – Dovizioso's first and second win in MotoGP came seven years apart, the second and the third 7 months apart, and the third and fourth just 7 days apart, while now he is just 7 points behind Vinales. “Should I change my race number?” asked Andrea.

I TOLD YOU SO – “Watch out for Valentino, he can fight for the podium”. His prediction on Saturday was the only thing Dovizioso got wrong at Le Mans.

Translated by Heather Watson
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