Having taken two fourths and two fifths from his first nine MotoGP starts,
Andrea Dovizioso declared after Assen; "we struggle to fight for podium positions and it seems that fourth or fifth is 'our' position in the race."
Dovizioso has also made clear that his satellite spec RC212V is no match for the leading factory machinery - the type of equipment he intends to secure for 2009 - but the JiR team believes that the tight and twisty characteristics of Sachsenring, venue for this weekend's German Grand Prix, will provide just the chance Dovi needs for 'an excellent result'.
"The particular layout of the German track tends to reduce the gap between the performances of each motorcycle, instead relying on the commitment of the rider in the corners," explained team director Gianluca Montiron.
"This is the opportunity for our riders [Dovizioso in MotoGP, Takahashi in 250GP] to show their capabilities and achieve some excellent results. The Honda has always had characteristics that suit this tortuous circuit, particularly in
MotoGP."
"I am confident we can get another good result, although it has never been a favourite circuit of mine," stated Andrea. "It is slow and twisty and it's almost like a minimoto track.
"I've felt this already with the 250cc bike, where you need to commit to every corner, so with the heavier MotoGP machine, I think this feeling will be even more pronounced.
"At the track I have never got into the top positions, but in recent years I have gone better at the circuit. Our recent races have also shown that our performance is improving so that is a good sign for this weekend's race," he declared.
Jorge Lorenzo is currently the highest ranked 2008 MotoGP rookie, in fourth on 114 points, followed by Dovizioso (sixth, 79 points),
James Toseland (eighth, 60 points) and
Alex de Angelis (15th, 25 points).
