After crashing during FP1 of the Misano Grand Prix, Andrea Iannone was diagnosed with a T3 thoracic vertebra fracture which caused him to miss the next three GPs. He courageously returned to Malaysia where he fought with pride against Valentino Rossi before falling.
In Valencia, he qualified honorably in seventh position, but no one gave much of his chances due to the intense pain caused by his injury. However Andrea, after a good start, succeeded in braking from beyond the grave at the entrance to the first corner, which allowed him to overtake everyone except the leader Jorge Lorenzo. We thought it was a flash in the pan, but it was not and Iannone fought hard with ardor and courage in the face of Valentino Rossi et Marc Marquez.
And it took a lot for him to outdistance his teammate in his group in the fight for second place. Andrea Dovizioso and Maverick Vinales. Iannone could do nothing against Marc Marquez who reached the second step of the podium, but he managed to fend off the attacks of Valentino Rossi to the finish line to take the final third place. He was broken down and exhausted upon arrival, and the team Ducati gave him a triumph to thank him for having done such a wonderful last race for her. Because on this Sunday evening, it was time for “arrivalerci” (goodbye), The Maniac being on his way to Team Suzuki whose GSX-RR he will test next Tuesday.
According to Andrea Iannone, “ Today's race was good. I got off to a great start and put up an incredible battle with Marquez and Rossi. I'm sure everyone who watched today, either at the circuit or at home on television, must have enjoyed it very much. I'm happy because, even if the last part of the championship was not exactly as I had planned, in my last race for the Ducati team I was able to get on the podium despite a difficult situation at manage.
“Even if after four years, unfortunately, we are going to separate, I would like to thank Ducati, to whom I have always given 100% and from whom I have always received the maximum support, and all its engineers, mechanics, the team staff, fans and Ducatisti. I will never forget this great family, and a part of my heart will forever remain at Ducati. »
