So, two things have to happen for Andrea Dovizioso to defy the odds and become world champion. First, he has to win the race. And, secondly, Marc Marquez has to have what is known in the trade as a ‘mare. Can I envisage Marc crashing? Yes, I can. He’s so close to it all of the time that a slip off, like in FP2 this afternoon, is not a shock. Can I see Dovi’ winning the race? Actually, yes. Today’s practice showed that the Ducati might actually work around here … Lorenzo was fastest. Can I see both things happening within 45 minutes of each other? Ah, that’s doesn’t seem very likely at all.
We will know a lot more tomorrow. FP3 and qualifying, especially, will be even more important than usual. Valencia is not a track where you can overtake easily, there have been precious few passes for the lead in the last ten years. Ducatis at the front? Marquez mired in the pack? Is that really a possibility? We’ll know tomorrow
