Iannone was forced to retire at Valencia

For the last time this year, the field of riders powered away for the start of a round of the 2013 MotoGP World Championship, this time in front of a packed, partisan crowd at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

After a good start, which allowed Andrea Iannone to immediately make up three positions and head the quartet of Ducati riders, the Italian had to defend his tenth place. He was involved in a battle with Dovizioso which was characterized by a series of passing moves that lasted until lap 20. A sudden crash at Turn 1 three laps from the end brought an end to Iannone’s good race, and he was forced to retire.

The Italian ended the 2013 season in 12th position in the overall standings, and is now ready to begin a new chapter with the Energy TI Pramac Racing Team, starting from tomorrow during the three-day IRTA tests held at the same circuit.

Andrea Iannone – Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team: “I made a very good start today, I pushed hard from the first lap, but then I took some risks. The track was different compared to this morning, it was very windy and we did not have the same front-end grip as the previous days. Then Nicky passed me, he was very fast and he went away from me. I managed to stay with Dovi for almost the entire race, but maybe I made a wrong tyre choice.

I used the soft one, but after 23 laps the bike started to slide too much, the electronics were intervening a lot, and I was struggling to pick up speed coming out of the curves. Then I crashed, I lost the front with which I didn’t have the right feeling all weekend. It has been a difficult year, I often got injured but I've always tried to do my best anyway. The team helped me to learn a lot, my first year has finished and I will use everything I learnt to tackle next year starting from tomorrow.

We don’t have a lot to test, we should wait for Malaysia for the most important new things, but we can revise what we did during this year. The arrival of Gigi Dall'Igna will surely be the first big news. I'm happy, he is a reassuring person and I really trust him. I think, however, that all the people working at Ducati are good guys, who have won in the past, and I don’t think they have forgotten how to do it.

A reorganization is definitely needed but I have full confidence in them, something that confirms the choice I made last year. I’d like to thank again all the people who have supported me throughout the year, allowing me to be able to get to the end of the season.”

Pramac Racing Team