Almost eight months and seventeen races since the start of the championship in Qatar, all the protagonists of 2014 MotoGP are gearing up for the final round of the season in Spain, the Valencian Community GP.
The Ricardo Tormo circuit, which is situated at Cheste close to Valencia, is the fourth event this year on Spanish soil, and is a medium-slow and twisty track that runs in a counter-clockwise direction. As is tradition, the Sunday race will be followed by three days of official IRTA tests in preparation for next season, but for the two riders of the 2015 Ducati Team – Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone – participation will be limited to just one day on Monday.
The Ducati Team have scored two wins in MotoGP at Valencia, one with Troy Bayliss in 2006 and the other with Casey Stoner in 2008. Andrea Dovizioso has taken part in the Valencia race six times, his best result being a third place in 2011, while Cal Crutchlow’s best performance in his three races at Valencia was fourth place in 2011.
For Cal, the final event of the season will also be his last time in Ducati Team colours: the British rider in fact will be continuing his career in MotoGP next year with another team.
After his eighth place at Sepang, Dovizioso is fifth overall in the standings with 174 points, while Crutchlow, who celebrated his 29th birthday last week, is fourteenth with 63 points.
The race at Valencia will also see a return to the track for Ducati Team test-rider Michele Pirro, who will step onto his Desmosedici GP14 for the sixth time this season, the fifth time as wild-card.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04)
“I don’t think the Valencia race will be easy for us: the layout of the track is totally different to the others, but in any case we have to continue to give the best feedback to the team, as we have always done throughout the season. We’ve made some big steps forward recently in consistency and pace and I’m sure we can improve in the future. I’ve got some good memories of the 2011 race when I got onto the podium, beating Pedrosa for third overall, but I don’t like the track very much and I’m sure I’m not the only rider who thinks this way.”
Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team #35)
“I’ve been feeling a lot more confident on the bike now since Aragòn, we’ve really found my pace back, so we need to take these positives to Valencia. This will be my last GP with the Ducati Team so a big thanks to them for this season, I’m going to miss them. They worked hard all through the year and I will try my best in the last race to get a good result.”
Michele Pirro (Ducati Test Team #51)
“I haven’t raced since Brno, so it’ll be great to be back in action. Valencia is a track that I like, and I’ve also won a race here. I hope to get a good result and gather all the info we need for the things we are testing on the bike. We’ve still got a few things in the electronics package to fine-tune and we hope to finish off the year in the best possible way”.
The Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia
The Valencian Community circuit, which was inaugurated in 1999, hosted its first Grand Prix that same year. The 4 km long track contains fourteen corners and an 876 metre long main straight. Although the circuit is relatively small, the main complex houses 48 pits and the long grandstands that surround the track, stadium-like, can contain over 150,000 spectators. The circuit layout creates a unique atmosphere, giving the public a spectacular view of the entire arena.
Fastest lap: 2013 Pedrosa (Honda), 1’31.628 (157.3 km/h)
Qualifying: 2013 Marquez (Honda), 1’30.237 (159.7 km/h)
Track length: 4.005 km
Race length: 30 laps (120.15 km)
Corners: 14 (9 left, 5 right)
Race start: 2 pm (GMT +1)
Andrea Dovizioso
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP14
Race number: 04
Age: 28 (born on 23 March 1986 in Forlimpopoli, Italy)
Residence: Forlì (Italy)
Races: 221 (123 x MotoGP, 49 x 250cc, 49 x 125cc)
First GP: 2001 Italian GP (125cc)
Wins: 10 (1 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)
First win: 2004 South African GP (125cc)
Poles: 15 (2 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 9 x 125cc)
First pole: 2003 French GP (125cc)
World titles: 1 (1 x 125cc)
Cal Crutchlow
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP14
Race number: 35
Age: 29 (born on 29 October 1985 in Coventry, UK)
Residence: Isle of Man
Races: 68 (68 x MotoGP)
First GP: 2011 Qatar
Poles: 2
First pole: 2013 Assen TT
Michele Pirro
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP14
Race number: 51
Age: 29 (born on 5 July 1986 in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy)
Residence: Cesena (Italy)
Races: 80 (33 x MotoGP, 18 x Moto2, 29 x 125cc)
First GP: 2003 Italian GP (125cc)
