Andrea Iannone powered to a splendid third-place podium finish in the Valencia Grand Prix, which brought the 2016 MotoGP World Championship season to a close today at the Cheste circuit. With this result, the rider from Vasto bade farewell in the best possible way to the Ducati Team, with whom in the last two years he scored a fantastic win in the Austrian GP and six podiums (one second place and five thirds).
After a good start from the third row, Iannone crossed the line at the end of the opening lap in second place and was then involved in a terrific scrap with Rossi and Marquez. When the Spanish world champion moved into second, Iannone continued his battle with Rossi, getting the better of his fellow Italian on lap 25 and he was able to hold onto third place until the chequered flag.
Team-mate Andrea Dovizioso had a good race after qualifying on the second row. The Italian was unable to get a good start however and he finished the opening lap in seventh place, before latching onto the group made up of Iannone, Viñales, Rossi and Marquez. Dovizioso then had to slow his pace due to a lack of feeling with the front of his bike, and he was passed by Pol Espargarò, finishing the race in seventh place just a fraction behind the Spanish rider.
The final championship standings see Dovizioso in fifth place with 171 points and Iannone ninth with 112 points. Ducati and the Ducati Team finished third overall both in the Constructors’ and Teams’ classifications.
Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 3rd
“Today it was a great race. I got a really good start and then had an incredible battle with Marquez and Rossi: I feel sure that everyone watching today, either in the circuit or at home on TV, must have enjoyed it a lot. I’m pleased because, even though the final part of the championship didn’t go exactly the way I had planned, in my last race for the Ducati Team I was able to get onto the podium, despite a rather difficult situation to manage. Even though after four years unfortunately we go our separate ways, I want to thank Ducati, to whom I have always given 100% and from whom I have always received the maximum of support, and all its engineers, mechanics, team personnel, fans and Ducatisti. I will never forget this great big family, and part of my heart will forever remain in Ducati.”
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 7th
“I’m a bit disappointed because I had hoped to finish the season fighting for the podium again, but I had a problem with the front from the first lap: the feeling with my bike was different to what it was in practice and I wasn’t able to brake the way I wanted. It was a pity because I really wanted to fight for the podium at Valencia, which has always been a tough track for me, and I think that today it could have been within reach. In any case finishing fifth overall was my aim, and if you think that I was eleventh at the fourth round, I have to be satisfied with our final place. I’m also happy to form part of the Ducati project for the next two years, because now we want to try and fight for something even more important.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“Andrea Iannone’s race was really great and exciting and his podium was for sure the best way to say goodbye to us. Andrea raced with his heart in his final outing with Ducati and I want to thank him because, in the four years we have been together, he has helped us to improve a lot and arrive at our current level. I’d like to wish him all the best for his new adventure. It was a pity about Dovizioso, because I think that even he could have fought for the podium today, but in any case Andrea showed that he was really competitive this year, especially in the last few races, and he finished the championship in a good fifth place.”
