MotoGP: ‘Very important’ Ducati win for Dovi

Malaysian Grand Prix winner Andrea Dovizioso has admitted that it was ‘very important’ to match the efforts of departing teammate Andrea Iannone this season and take his first win for Ducati.

He took a textbook victory in wet conditions in Sunday’s race, picking his way through to the front of the field and then showing just how much pace he had by leaving Valentino Rossi for dead as he pulled clear.

“It was very important for me to win a race this year: I’ve been trying for so long and I’ve come close on several occasions, so satisfaction for today’s result is truly immense. I really powered to the win, because in the first half of the race I could not push too hard, but I didn’t give up, I didn’t make any mistakes and at the right time I passed both Iannone and Rossi and set my own pace.”

And, both with Iannone winning at the Red Bull Ring in August and with considerable improvements to the Ducati Desmosedici since Dovizioso joined the team in 2013, taking his debut win for the Italian manufacturer gained more importance than ever this season.

“I am very happy about the improvements we have made this year, both in the bike and with my team, but also on a personal level. I am working hard also for next year and this win, which has come at the end of the season, is just reward for all the efforts.”

And his win hasn’t gone unnoticed in the factory that put their faith behind him and not Iannone to partner new signing Jorge Lorenzo for 2017, with Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’inga full of praise for him afterwards.

“I am really happy for Andrea Dovizioso’s win, he’s had an excellent season even though he has been out of luck on occasions, so his position in the standings does not reflect his true worth. Well done Andrea! He made a perfect race, controlling the situation in the early laps and then attacking at the right moment to bring home this splendid result, which was important both for him and the team.

“The Desmosedici GP has always gone well in the wet, but we know we still have to improve some aspects in the dry and we are making every effort to do so.”