With exactly one third of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship behind them, the Ducati Team riders are all set to tackle round 7 of the season this weekend in Spain, at the Montmeló circuit on the outskirts of Barcelona. A long straight and numerous corners with good overtaking points make the Catalan circuit one of the most spectacular on the calendar and the Catalan GP always attracts a massive crowd.

Last year’s race saw Andrea Iannone start from twelfth on the grid, but he crossed the line in a positive fourth place. The Montmelò track remains one of the Italian rider’s favourites and he picked up a win here in Moto2 in 2012. His team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, who started from row 2, was forced to retire after crashing out on lap 6.

The Catalan GP weekend gets underway on Friday morning with the first session of free practice at 09.55 CET, while the 25-lap race is scheduled for Sunday at 14.00 CET.

Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 9° (41 points)

“This weekend I want to continue our Mugello form at Barcelona, because it’s a track I like so much and I won a race here in Moto2 in 2012. In MotoGP however in the last 3 or 4 years we have struggled a bit, but this year the situation is completely different because the tyres and the electronics have changed. My Desmosedici GP has shown itself to be a really competitive bike, and I hope it will be a great weekend for us.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 11° (34 points)

“In my opinion the Montmelò circuit is one of the best tracks in the world and I am so happy to go there to race. It will be important to see how the Michelin tyres will be on such a difficult track. Anyway the feeling with the Desmosedici GP is very good but we still have to improve in some areas. We are constantly fast in practice but we never seem to be able to fight for the race win.”

The Barcelona-Catalunya circuit

In 1989, through the joint collaboration of the Catalan Autonomous Government, the Montmeló Town Council and the Royal Automobile Club of Catalunya (RACC), work began on building a state-of-the-art race track for one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Located twenty or so kilometres north of Barcelona, the circuit opened for business in September 1991 and welcomed its first international event that same month with the Spanish F1 Grand Prix. It went on to host the European Motorcycle Grand Prix and in 1995 became home to the Catalan GP. Considered to be one of the best modern-day tracks, the Circuito de Catalunya can accommodate over 100,000 spectators.

Circuit Record: A. Espargarò (Suzuki), 1’40.546 (169.2 km/h) – 2015

Fastest Lap: Marquez (Honda), 1’42.182 (166.5 km/h) – 2014

Best Pole: A. Espargarò (Suzuki), 1’40.546 (169.2 km/h) – 2015

Top Speed: Marquez (Honda), 347.1 km/h – 2015

Circuit Length: 4.7 km

Race Distance: 25 laps (118.2 km)

Race Start: 14.00 CET

2015 Results

Podium: 1. Lorenzo (Yamaha), 2. Rossi (Yamaha), 3. Pedrosa (Honda)

Pole Position: A. Espargarò (Suzuki), 1’40.546 (169.2 km/h)

Fastest Lap: Marquez (Honda), 1’42.219 (166.4 km/h)

Andrea Dovizioso

Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP

Race Number: 04

Age: 30 (born on March 23rd 1986 in Forlimpopoli, Italy)

Residence: Forlì (Italy)

Races: 246 (148 x MotoGP, 49 x 250cc, 49 x 125cc)

First GP: 2001 Italian GP (125cc)

Wins: 10 (1 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)

First Win: 2004 South African GP (125cc)

Pole Positions: 16 (3 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 9 x 125cc)

First Pole: 2003 French GP (125cc)

Titles: 1 (1 x 125cc)

Andrea Iannone

Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP

Race Number: 29

Age: 26 (born on August 9th 1989 in Vasto, Italy)

Residence: Vasto (Italy)

Races: 184 (57 x MotoGP, 51 x Moto2, 76 x 125cc)

First GP: 2005 Spanish GP (125cc)

Wins: 12 (8 x Moto2, 4 x 125cc)

First Win: 2008 GP of China (125cc)

Pole Positions: 9 (1 x MotoGP, 5 x Moto2, 3 x 125cc)

First Pole: 2008 GP of Malaysia (125cc)