MotoGP, Iannone tells all after his win at the Red Bull Ring

We're sure that Sunday at the Red Bull Ring will forever remain impressed on his mind. An historic day for Andrea Iannone and Ducati, together on the highest step of the podium. Three days after the victory, the Vasto rider opens up in an exclusive interview with Italian publication Corriere dello Sport. Here's a brief extract of the full interview.

After the race at the Red Bull Ring there was the party in Ibiza, attended also by showgirl Belen. Will we see her again at Brno?

“To tell the truth, we went straight home. A few friends were there, nothing huge. No, Belen won't come. She definitely brought me luck and is welcome any time she wants to come along. She is...special. How can I put it: she's a women”.

What will be your long-lasting memory of this win?

“First of all, that this was a team effort. And then the discussion that I had on the starting line with my crew chief Marco Rigamonti. It wasn't easy to decide on the soft rear tyre when everyone else was opting for the hard. I was worried it was the wrong decision, until Marco told me: Andrea, do what you think best, we'll share this responsibility together”.

Do you think that, if the win had come sooner, you could have stayed in Ducati next year too?

“But I could have stayed in Ducati in 2017. The problem is that we were unable to come to an agreement that would allow it to happen. And then victory is like love: when you go looking for it, it never comes”.

The win breaks the ice, will there be more this year?

“I hope so, but to win you need to be able to count on a bike that doesn't force you to ride on the limit for an entire Grand Prix, otherwise the risk is too great and you'll make a mistake sooner or later. In Austria we had something of a margin and I always felt that I had the situation under control. We hope to find ourselves in a similar situation at Brno too”.

Vale seemed really pleased with your result.

“He was, he waited for me on the lap of honour and signalled for us to pull a wheelie together. I have immense respect for him, he's a friend”.

Many say that the fact you are where you are is also down to your manager, Pernat.

“Carletto is more than a manager and I will stay with him for as long as he can put up with me. We were born on the same day, under the same sign, we speak the same language”.