Ducati Team lines up for home race, the Italian GP at Mugello
The Ducati Team has arrived at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello for the Italian Grand Prix, the sixth round of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship, and one of the most popular and prestigious rounds of the calendar.
For the Ducati Team riders, this will be a truly special occasion seeing as it is the home race for the red bikes from Borgo Panigale. Lining up for his first home race as a Ducati rider, Jorge Lorenzo will certainly be able to count on the support of a multitude of tifosi, including all those packed into the Ducati Grandstand at the Correntaio curve. The 30-year-old rider from Palma di Mallorca holds an incredible record at Mugello, having won five of the last six races held in Tuscany, and finishing second a further three times. Team-mate Andrea Dovizioso on the other hand, is not new to the support of the fans, as he has already taken part in nine editions of the Italian GP. Andrea’s best result at Mugello is a second place he scored in 2011, while last year he finished the race in fifth place.
Mugello will also see the participation of Michele Pirro, entered as a wild-card with a third Desmosedici GP of the Ducati Test Team. The rider from San Giovanni Rotondo, winner of the opening rounds of the Italian Superbike Championship, will take to the track for the first time this season in MotoGP.
The Italian GP weekend gets underway on Friday morning with the first free practice session at 9.55 am, while the 23-lap race is scheduled for Sunday at 2 pm.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 6th (54 points)
“The Mugello round is the home grand prix for both me and for Ducati, so it is always something special. We count on being competitive seeing as for us it is a track we know very well, and so we will be looking for a good result. The test that we did here a couple of weeks back went well and the feeling is good. I’m convinced that if we work well throughout the weekend, we can do a good race.”
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – 8th (38 points)
“After sixth place at Le Mans and above all the positive test we had last week at Montmelò, I come to Mugello feeling optimistic and with a great desire to race. We found some good solutions with the front tyre and the aim is to be as competitive as we were at Jerez. Now I’ve accumulated more mileage, and as a result more experience on the bike and I feel ready for the Italian GP. Mugello is one of my favourite circuits and it’s also one of the tracks where I have won the most in the past. This year we also have the fact that it’s Ducati’s home track, and this makes me even more motivated. I can’t wait to see all the fans in the Ducati Grandstand!”
Michele Pirro (Ducati Team #51)
“Finally I return to the track for a GP for the first time since Aragon last year. I’m very happy because it’s always a fascinating experience to race at Mugello in front of our fans. As always I’ll try and do my best together with the guys in the Test Team to put our bike as far forward as possible. We have a good base and I am ready to try and get a good result in the race.”
The Mugello circuit
Located 30km north-east of Florence in the beautiful Tuscany countryside, Mugello is a modern circuit with excellent facilities. Bought by Ferrari back in 1988, the 5.245km track has been renovated to a high standard and has a reputation for being one of the world’s most up-to-date, scenic and safest race circuits. A blend of slow and fast turns with sweeping curves, long straights and off-camber corners make Mugello one of the most challenging circuits for the riders and engineers. Having hosted its first MotoGP event back in 1976 the venue became a permanent fixture in 1991 after extensive refurbishment.