The Ducati Team’s two Italian riders will start the German Grand Prix from the third row of the grid after today’s qualifying session at the Sachsenring. Andrea Dovizioso was seventh quickest with a time of 1’21.858, while team-mate Andrea Iannone was two places further down the field in ninth after recording a time of 1’21.890.
In this morning’s FP3 session, Iannone was second quickest behind Marquez and this meant that he, together with Dovizioso in ninth, went straight through into the all-important Q2 qualifying session in the afternoon.
The final free practice session then saw the Vasto-born rider take first place and with Dovizioso fifth, the two factory Ducati men went out for the decisive qualifying run-off for the first four rows of the grid.
Dovizioso set seventh-quickest time on the final lap of his second run while Iannone, who crashed at Turn 1 on his first exit, managed to return to the garage. His bike was repaired in time to allow him to go back out on track and obtain the ninth-quickest time on his final lap.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1’21.’858 (7th)
“I am pleased because we are again working well this weekend and we have managed to improve in every session. In FP4 our pace wasn’t bad at all and with used tyres we are not far from the frontrunners, but unfortunately in qualifying I was not able to make a perfect lap. Tomorrow the weather conditions will probably change again and the cooler temperature could help us, so we’ll see what will happen in the race.”
Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 1’21.890 (9th)
“It’s a pity that in qualifying we were not able to make the most of our potential because throughout the weekend we have always been very quick and competitive. Our best session was FP4 in race simulation, with a full tank and a used rear tyre, and in the end we were very quick with a good pace. Unfortunately in qualifying with the first tyre I crashed when I lost the front, and in the end we were not able to get into the first two rows, which was our target because here it’s very important to start up at the front.”
