Good start for Andrea Dovizioso in French GP

Iannone eleventh despite shoulder pain.

Andrea Dovizioso’s Le Mans weekend got off to a good start, with the Italian ending the first day of free practice for the French GP in third place. The Ducati Team rider was very quick in the morning session, when he topped the timesheets, and then in FP2 he set third quickest time while showing above all an excellent pace.

His team-mate Andrea Iannone went out on track today with a very painful left shoulder, the result of a crash three days ago during Ducati testing at Mugello. The rider from Vasto, who received assistance from the Clinica Mobile medical staff, determinedly took part in both of today’s free practice sessions and ended the day in a provisional eleventh place, around nine-tenths of a second off the pace of the leader.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1’33.553 (3rd): “I am very happy with the feeling I have established with my Desmosedici GP15 here at Le Mans. The test at Mugello proved to be really useful: now I can be quick with ease and this allows us to work well, to do the required testing and to be able to improve on the small details that are so important when it comes to the race. I am satisfied with today’s performance, but for sure we still have to work on improving the stability of the bike”.

Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 1’34.092 (11th): “I am in a bit of a difficult situation, because my shoulder is still hurting. This morning I started without taking any type of painkiller, but in the afternoon the doctors of the Clinica Mobile gave me an injection. Unfortunately the situation did not improve: the pain remained virtually the same and my shoulder is still creating me problems, especially in the chicanes and in the changes of direction. For tomorrow we will try and find a solution that allows me to ride better, but I fear I will have to grit my teeth because it’s not going to be an easy weekend”.