After the two August races in Austria and the Czech Republic, this weekend the Ducati Team heads across the Channel for the twelfth round of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship – the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, which takes place on Sunday.
Andrea Dovizioso has been on the Silverstone podium three times, thanks to two second places obtained in 2010 and 2011 and a third place last year, which he achieved after a superb recovery in a race held on a wet track. Team-mate Andrea Iannone scored his best result at the British circuit with a fourth place in Moto2 in 2012, while last year he finished eighth on the factory Desmosedici GP15.
Both Ducati Team riders come to the UK off the back of last Tuesday’s one-day test at Misano in preparation for the San Marino and the Rimini Riviera GP, which will be held at the Romagna circuit in mid-September. The two Andreas lapped quickly on their Desmosedici GP machines, but Dovizioso unfortunately crashed at Turn 4 at the end of the test, twisting his right knee in the process. After an MRI scan at the circuit, which ruled out any more serious injuries, the Romagna-born rider then underwent the necessary therapy so as to face up to the British race in the best possible way.
The Silverstone weekend schedule gets underway on Friday morning with first free practice at 9.55 am (10.55 CET), while Sunday’s 20-lap race will start at 3.30 pm (16.30 CET).
Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 6th (96 points)
“Our Desmosedici GP bike has now become competitive at every circuit and the race at Silverstone could also turn out to be positive for us. I’ve had a few problems here in the past because it’s a strange track, very wide and more suitable for Formula 1 cars than bikes. It’s not the sort of circuit I prefer, but I think we have a good chance of doing well here.”
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 8th (79 points)
“I really could have done without that crash at Misano, but I’m working with my physiotherapist to do everything possible to be OK for Silverstone. My right knee is still giving me some pain but I’m undergoing intense physiotherapy. In any case Silverstone is one of the tracks I prefer: it’s really great even though it is very difficult. I think that we can also be competitive here, seeing as last year I managed to get onto the podium with a third place in the race.”
The Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone, situated half-way between Oxford and Northampton and a couple of hours drive from London, started life as an RAF military airport, and is the longest – as well as one of the fastest – circuits on the entire calendar. With more than sixty years of history behind it, it is one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport venues, with races held for all categories, both four wheels and two. Massive investments saw the completion of a first phase of improvement work to greatly improve the venue in 2010, when the track once again became the venue for the British Grand Prix.
Fastest Lap: Marquez (Honda), 2’00.234 (176.6 km/h) – 2015
Circuit Record: Pedrosa (Honda), 2’01.941 (174.1 km/h) – 2013
Best Pole: Marquez (Honda), 2’00.234 (176.6 km/h) – 2015
Top Speed: Iannone (Ducati), 332.4 km/h – 2015
Circuit Length: 5.9 km
Race Distance: 20 laps (118.0 km)
Corners: 18 (8 left, 10 right)
Race Start: 3.30 pm (16:30 CET)
2015 Results
Podium: 1st Rossi (Yamaha), 2nd Petrucci (Ducati), 3rd Dovizioso (Ducati)
Pole Position: Marquez (Honda), 2’00.234 (176.655 km/h)
Fastest Lap: Rossi (Yamaha), 2’16.486 (155.620 km/h)
Andrea Dovizioso
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
Race Number: 04
Age: 30 (born on March 23rd 1986 in Forlimpopoli, Italy)
Residence: Forlì (Italy)
Races: 251 (153 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)
Pole Positions: 16 (3 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 9 x 125cc)
First Pole: 2003 French GP (125cc)
Titles: 1 (1 x 125cc)
Andrea Iannone
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
Race Number: 29
Age: 27 (born on August 9th 1989 in Vasto, Italy)
Residence: Vasto (Italy)
Races: 189 (62 x MotoGP, 51 x Moto2, 76 x 125cc)
First GP: 2005 Spanish GP (125cc)
Wins: 13 (1 x MotoGP, 8 x Moto2, 4 x 125cc)
First Win: 2008 GP of China (125cc)
Pole Positions: 10 (2 x MotoGP, 5 x Moto2, 3 x 125cc)
First Pole: 2008 GP of Malaysia (125cc)
