MotoGP, Dovizioso: winning gave me peace of mind

The two Andreas arrived in Valencia with different feelings. Dovizioso is pumped up after the win in Malaysia and can approach the last round of the season with less pressure. For Iannone, on the other hand, the Spanish round marks the end of his adventure with Ducati and from Tuesday, he will be astride a Suzuki.

Very different starting points for the two, but both share the desire not to cut a poor figure on a track that has not been very kind to the ‘Reds’. Ducati has only won at Valencia in 2006 with Bayliss and in 2008 with Stoner.

“I am very happy to have won the race at Sepang because it was very important to me to win a GP this season and now I can go to Valencia with peace of mind and aware of our value - says Dovi - It was my intention to reach at least fifth place in the standings and now I have the chance to do that, but I am satisfied more than anything with the improvements achieved this year by the bike, the team and on a personal level as well, so I will do everything I can to close out the championship in the best possible way in Spain.”

That is what Iannone wants too and he knows that a good result would make the farewell sweeter. The rider from Abruzzo, however, is still not at full fitness after fracturing a vertebra at Misano.

“Valencia will be a rather difficult track for me from a physical standpoint. I will try to do my best throughout the weekend, but it will be neither easy nor a given - he points out - And then it will be my last race with Ducati, so I will truly try to give 100%. I have had four fantastic years with Ducati, especially the last two as a factory rider, and we have done an incredible job together, especially after Gigi came on board, with whom I have always had an excellent rapport. When you are able to work so well with a group of people it is always difficult to split up, but life goes on, so from Monday I will take on a new challenge.”