Redding: Dashboard message said let Dovi through

It may have come at the expense of championship challenger Andrea Dovizioso, but Scott Redding rode to a strong eleventh place at Phillip Island on Sunday, to finish as the top Ducati rider at the end of a tight, three-rider battle.

Redding revealed Ducati management had “ignored” him in the period after the Australian Grand Prix after he out-dragged Dovizioso to the line on the last lap, to score five points for eleventh. Dani Pedrosa followed Redding by, demoting Dovizioso to a lacklustre 13^th - a severe blow in his championship quest.

The Englishman had already received an order via dashboard communication to allow Dovizioso by after the factory rider made a costly mistake on lap two. Redding duly obliged and could only watch on as the official GP17 broke clear.

Yet Redding soon found feeling, and began to close the gap on Dovizioso and Pedrosa ahead. And after difficult weekends in Aragon, where he finished 14^th, and Japan (16^th), the Englishman felt he had a point to prove. “People in the paddock doubt me day in, day out,” he said. “When I can use my ability and use the tyre, I need to show it.”

Dovizioso was unmoved by Redding’s pass, stating he was simply embarrassed by his own lack of speed exiting Phillip Island’s fast, final corner. “He was doing his own race,” said the Italian, not wishing to make an issue out of the pass.

“I had a big gap to close,” said Redding of his race. “And you know in MotoGP you cannot take seconds out of guys, you have to chip away, chip away. I was a bit worried about the tire, but most were on soft and I felt good and I could find the grip, save the tyre.

“So I pushed, I went through. I mean, I had to battle a bit, I didn't expect to beat Dovi, because I thought he was a bit stronger when he passed me, but I was really fast in the last corners where normally I struggle, and I went through, and I'm happy. I know some people are not happy, but f**k it, I have to look out for myself sometimes.”

On out-dragging Dovizioso to the line, Redding revealed there had been conversations within Ducati to help out when possible. “I got him out of the last corner. Had to hold it tight, picked it up, I had drive, and down to the corner. But I was battling with Pedrosa as well, I'm not going to sacrifice everything. I've had a s**t two weekends and the least I could do for myself is give myself some confidence.

“There was some word to try and help Dovi, but it's not like that was for a podium position. Then it's different. When he was out of the track, he came back and I passed him, he came alongside me, I let him through, I let him go, and he was gone. But what should I do? If you're catching someone, what are you supposed to do?

“People doubt me around the paddock day in, day out, so when I can use my ability and use the tyre, I need to show it. If I was now again behind Dovi and that, it would be, oh yeah, Scott did well. But now people think, f**k me, Scott did really well, look where he came from. So I didn't do it just to beat him, I was just generally stronger today. Which not even I expected.”

Had he received strict orders before the race at Phillip Island to help the Italian out when possible? “Honestly, beforehand no,” he said. “In Japan and other places yes, but here no.

“But I did have a message on the dashboard during the race to say let Dovi through, which I did and let him go. But then like I say, when you're catching someone and you're a lot stronger, what are you supposed to do?

“I have to think about my career as well. I have a championship. If it was for a top five position, then you have a bigger point difference, then you think, OK. Maybe I would have thought different. But for one point? It's not something I'm going to lose any sleep over.

“I've been struggling week in, week out, and to be honest, they're not really helping me right now. I'm going. That's fine, I also know that. I'll help them if I can help them, but for one point, and after the situation I've been in, I have to sometimes think of myself.

“Last time I helped someone for a championship, I lost the championship myself by 1 point. If it was a different situation then I would have, and I did, I let him through, I let him go. He had distance, but I was much stronger today, and I wanted to prove that, even to myself.

“So I don't regret going in front, it was a drag to the line, and I think Pedrosa was in front too. So we were battling, and I’m not going to give everything up all the time for that, I need to show myself.”

Pressed on whether Ducati personnel has spoken to him in the immediate aftermath of the race, Redding stated he had been “ignored” before his dealings with the media.

“Normally, they see me after the race, but they've ignored me so far. A little bit pissed off, but when you're in that position, your championship's gone anyway. You need to be at the front. He made the mistake to run on [at turn one on lap two]. It's not my fault.

“I helped him, I let him go, I did my part. But you cannot keep giving all the time, nobody gave me f**k all when I wanted the championship, the only thing I got was a broken arm. So you've got to think about yourself.”

When Dovizioso, now 33 points behind Marc Marquez in the title race, was asked whether he was upset at the Englishman’s actions, he said, “No, he is doing his race.

“I was embarrassed about my traction. He had much better traction at the end. I tried to close all the doors until the last corner and the exit of the last corner I was so slow and he overtake me.”