Valencia GP: Dovizioso seventh, Iannone crashes out

Andrea Dovizioso finished seventh in the final round of the 2015 season, the Valencia GP held at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Cheste, while his team-mate Andrea Iannone was forced to retire after a crash on lap 3. Wild-card Michele Pirro ended the race in twelfth place.

Both Ducati Team riders got off to a good start from the third row: at the end of lap 1 Iannone crossed the line in fourth place and Dovizioso in fifth. After Iannone’s crash, Dovizioso held on to fourth until lap 12, but then lost some more positions over the next few laps to finish the race in seventh.

Michele Pirro, who started from row 4, moved into tenth on lap 2, and he held on to that position until lap 16. The Ducati Test Team rider was then passed by a recovering Crutchlow and then by Viñales and finished the last round of the season in twelfth.

The final championship standings see Iannone fifth overall and Dovizioso seventh, while Ducati and the Ducati Team confirm their third place in the Constructors’ and Teams’ standings.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 7th

“Obviously I cannot be satisfied with today’s result, because I am not riding the way I want and am unable to get the best potential from the bike. Some of the characteristics of the GP15 make it difficult for me to make the difference, and so I hope that we will manage to make the right modifications next year, taking advantage of next season’s regulation changes.”

Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – DNF

“My race began well with a good start, and I tried to push as hard as possible as I had nothing to lose. I tried to stay with the top guys and I was pushing Pedrosa, who had an excellent pace. Unfortunately I made a mistake and crashed out, but sometimes you have to be prepared to risk everything to try and reach an important objective. I want to thank my team for this fantastic year, as well as Ducati and all the guys in Bologna for the support they have given me since I joined the factory team. I am very happy with the final result even though we lost out on fourth place, which I was aiming for, and I am sure that next year we will be ready to fight in a big way.”

Michele Pirro (Ducati Test Team #51) – 12th

“In the end I am a bit disappointed, because I rode well especially at the start, but then I struggled a bit and lost contact with the second group where there was also Dovizioso. However I tried to do my best and bring home some useful indications for the team, even though this is the last time we used the Bridgestone tyres. I want to thank Ducati for giving me this opportunity as well as all the guys in Ducati Corse for their great commitment. From Tuesday onwards we will start working again to try and make the Desmosedici even more competitive next year.”

Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)

“The championship has concluded with a race in which we didn't obtain the results we had expected. I feel really sorry for Iannone, who today made the only mistake in his entire season, but I have to say that overall he had an extraordinary championship. Dovizioso has been in a bit of difficulty over the last few races, but in any case took the GP15 five times to the podium this year. Now we immediately start working for 2016 with two days of tests here at Valencia on Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Ducati