MotoGP: Avintia Ducati secures GP17s for 2018

Reale Avintia Ducati have confirmed a major coup for the 2018 season, extending their deal

with the Italian manufacturer for another season and securing the of GP17 machines currently being used by Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso for Hector Barbera and Loris Baz next year.

The pair, already confirmed at the team on two-year deals signed last year, will step up from two-year-old bikes in Baz’s case – and team CEO Raúl Romero says they’re aware of the opportunity they’ve been given.

“I’m extremely happy to announce that we will be racing with Ducati next season. We are like a family and we are fully integrated in their MotoGP project. We had some more options for next season, but the confidence showed by Paolo Ciabatti and Gigi Dall’Igna over these years made the decision easy to sign so early in the season.

“We feel an incredible support from the factory and the guaranty to have this year’s factory bikes for next season is really important for the team. Now it will be easy to find more sponsorship and to keep growing.”

His sentiments were echoed by Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Sporting Director, who says the relationship with with the team is one they were very keen to continue.

“We are really happy and satisfied to be able to continue our relationship with Reale Avintia Racing in 2018. It is a team that started to work with us at the end of 2014 and since then they have never stopped growing together with Ducati. We believe that the team will have a great opportunity to do a fantastic job again next season, as they are doing now and as they did in the last years working with us.”