Ducati confirm Dovizioso will partner Lorenzo

Ducati have today confirmed that they’ve extended the contract of Andrea Dovizioso to partner Jorge Lorenzo in 2017 and 2018.

The Bologna-based brand confirmed the news this afternoon ahead of their home Grand Prix at Mugello this weekend. GPxtra reported yesterday  that Ducati had re-signed the more experienced Italian, with Iannone on the verge of signing a deal to replace the Yamaha-bound Maverick Viñales.

Many had expected Iannone to be retained, but his future looked sealed after the last-corner clash between the two in Termas de Rio earlier this year. Rumours of a disagreement over a salary may have also contributed to the break between Iannone and Ducati.

Dovizioso will extend his stay with the factory Ducati team into a fifth and sixth season, the Italian is delighted to be continuing with Ducati, whilst partnering the reigning MotoGP World Champion.

“I am very satisfied to have reached this agreement with Ducati and to be able to continue the adventure I begun back with them in 2013,” the Italian said after signing his new contract.

“In the last few years we have worked with a lot of commitment and we have succeeded in taking the Desmosedici GP to an excellent competitive level. So I am convinced that soon we will obtain the satisfaction that we deserve,” he said.

Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna said that they were obviously delighted to extend Dovizioso’s contract, whilst also taking the opportunity to thank Iannone for his work with the factory team over the past two seasons.

“It’s never easy to take a decision like this one, especially when you have two great riders like the two Andreas in our team,” he said.

“We are very happy that Dovizioso has agreed to stay with us for the next two years, and together with him we can continue the successful work we began four years ago in order to reach them ambition aims we have set for ourselves.

“We are sorry for Andrea Iannone, who at the end of the season will no longer be a part of the team. Andrea has carried out an important job in these years and has made a significant contribution to the development of the Ducati Desmosedici GP. For this reason we would like to thank him and we will provide him with out maximum commitment in the next rounds of the championship, in order to obtain the prestigious results that are for sure within his reach.”

Photos via Ducati Corse