One week after his second place finish at Austin, Andrea Dovizioso produced another fine performance to repeat the result at Termas de Rio Hondo when he finished runner-up behind winner Rossi in the Argentina GP.
With this result, the 29-year-old from Forlì finished second for the third time in a row in this early part of the season, after putting together a fast and intelligent race. Dovizioso crossed the line in fifth at the end of lap 1 and continued his charge upwards to reach second on lap 8. Three laps later Rossi, who was also working his way to the front, overtook the Ducati Team rider but Dovizioso remained firmly on his tail until the end, and aided by the fact that Marquez crashed, he took the chequered flag in second place.
Andrea Iannone also had a very good run throughout to finish fourth at the flag. The 25-year-old from Vasto, who qualified on the front row, crossed the line in sixth on lap 1 but then moved up to fourth on lap 3 behind team-mate Dovizioso. Iannone was then passed by Rossi and began a terrific battle with Crutchlow and Lorenzo. On the penultimate lap Andrea succeeded in passing Crutchlow, moving into third, but the British rider retook the place right at the final corner and so Iannone was classified fourth in the Argentinean race.
Thanks to today’s results, Dovizioso remains second overall in the Riders’ standings with 60 points, six behind leader Rossi, while Iannone moves up to third with 40 points.
Ducati lie second in the Constructors’ table with 60 points and the Ducati Team are second in the dedicated Teams’ classification, with 100 points.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 2nd
“I am really pleased, even more so than in the first two rounds, because this was a very difficult track for us. In practice and qualifying we went quite well but we were not that fast, and managing such a demanding race with the drop in rear tyre performance was very important and rather complicated. Everyone really had to struggle, but once again we managed to get onto the podium. This result means that we are looking really strong, because we are there up at the front even when the conditions are not so much in our favour. I want to thank the team, who are working very well, as well as Ducati who have made a special bike, and I feel very confident about the future because we can only get better.”
Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 4th
“In the race we could have certainly have battled for the podium, because we were set up well to be quick and in the end we demonstrated it. Around half-way through the race I was in a bit of difficulty and I changed the engine mapping to try and reduce the sliding of the bike and ride a bit better, but it was too late. I probably didn’t guess the strategy right, and in the end I paid for it. It was a pity because in the final stages I was quicker than Cal, but I arrived a bit long at the final corner and he passed me. In any case it was a great scrap, and for sure I will try and get even in the next race.”
Paolo Ciabatti (Ducati Corse Sporting Director)
“We are really satisfied with this result, which comes on a difficult track for us. Also on this occasion the riders and the team worked very well and the GP15 demonstrated once again that it is a really competitive bike. Dovizioso was really fantastic and he ran a fast and intelligent race to take second place for the third time this season. It was a pity about Iannone, who deserved to finish on the podium, but in any case we return to Europe with our two riders second and third in the championship and we can be pleased about that. I want to thank all the guys in Ducati Corse who have worked non-stop these last few months and I dedicate this result to them”.
