Dovi stakes claim for remaining Ducati seat

Andrea Dovizioso has staked his claim for the remaining seat at Ducati next season alongside new signing Jorge Lorenzo, hitting out at teammate (and rival for the spot) Andrea Iannone.

Iannone is rumoured to have his offer for next season withdrawn by the Bologna firm in the aftermath of the duo’s Argentinian crash, where Iannone took out his teammate and cost the manufacturer two podium finishes.

And while it remains to be seen if Iannone’s contract is now up for negotiation again. Dovizioso has fired the first shots in the fight to remain with the red team.

“I don’t think Ducati have to decide the future of the riders just on their points alone. I think they can be intelligent and analyse all the riders and see what they need. It isn’t just about speed or results. But even then, in the first few races I was fast and I should have been on the podium, so I’m relaxed!”

And despite two non-scores in three races, after he was also the unfortunate victim of Dani Pedrosa’s crash last time out in Austin, the Italian says he believes they can get their season back on track this weekend in Jerez.

“In the first three races this season, I’ve always worked really well with my team throughout the weekend and I have shown that I am competitive on track. Jerez is one of the toughest circuits for the Ducati and for me, but I am very confident in what we have and so I’ll also be pushing hard in Spain to try and get back on the podium.”