It's done, Jorge Lorenzo will be a Ducati rider for the 2017 and 2018 seasons with a salary said to be around 12 million euros annually. Having done this, it now appears that there is one pilot too many among the reds. One certainty, however: the teammate of the five-time World Champion will be named Andrea.
Certainly, but will the name be Iannone ou Dovizioso. At the end of the Termas de Rio Hondo blunder, one would have thought that the first city had sealed its fate within a Ducati team that it had just scuttled. But the podium lost in Argentina was won a week later in Austin and after the grimace soup, we said to ourselves at Ducati that we wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Moreover, Iannone did not fail to point out that he would be the ideal teammate of a Lorenzo with whom he shares the same driving style. According to him.
Enough to annoy the police Dovizioso who was not born of the last rain. He no longer has to prove his value, to the point that his extension with the Reds would make sense based on his experience alone. But nothing seems certain, and even far from it. To the point that harsh comments are starting to come from a “desmo dovi” who could be disappointed with the arbitration coming from Borgo Panigale: “ the people of Ducati know what has happened in the last four years, they have all the data of their riders, their characteristics, the work accomplished, the development carried out, their approach, their professionalism ».
« If they choose me, it’s because they agree with my arguments and my way of working. If not so be it. The Ducati is a special bike even if its character has greatly improved. Now a lot of drivers want it. It is a personal satisfaction to remember that I came to Ducati at a time when no one wanted to go there. ". A last sentence which says a lot about the current atmosphere among the reds. What if Dovi's loyalty and self-sacrifice were to be trampled? A new adventure at Suzuki and KTM? “ I will then analyze to understand and evaluate. I have experience. So I know how to judge a project ". So many questions that are not asked Iannone which is nevertheless said to be in contact with Suzuki.
