The Ducati Team arrives at Jerez de la Frontera for the first European round of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship season
Following on from the first three overseas encounters of the season, the Ducati Team has now arrived in Spain, where on Sunday the fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship will be held at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Andalusia.
Last year’s Spanish GP did not bring much joy for Andrea Dovizioso, who had to retire on lap 10, while Jorge Lorenzo, who will be celebrating his thirtieth birthday on Thursday at Jerez, finished second at the flag after starting from second place on the grid.
The Jerez de la Frontera weekend gets underway on Friday morning with the first free practice session at 9.55 am, while the 27-lap race is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 2 pm.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 4th (30 points)
“Finally we are back in Europe and even though we did a one-day test at this circuit one month ago, I don’t exactly know what to expect from the Jerez race. Our balance sheet after the first three rounds of the season is not satisfactory enough because we thought we would be quicker this year, but with the exception of the Qatar race, it hasn’t been like this so far. At any rate, we are all working to change the situation and although the Jerez track is one of the toughest for me and Ducati, I will be fighting hard in Spain to try and get back onto the podium.”
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – 13th (12 points)
“We arrive in Spain after three rather complicated races for us, but we have always made small steps forward in the latest rounds. Jerez is one of my favourite tracks, I have excellent memories of it, and I’ve scored a number of wins there, but it’s also true to say that it’s not the most favourable track for Ducati. We are analyzing all the data, including those from the recent test at this circuit, to carry on working on the bike and improve our competitiveness. I can’t wait to feel the warm support from the Spanish crowd and ride a Ducati for the first time in front of my fans.”
The Jerez de la Frontera circuit
Built in 1986, the Jerez circuit hosted its first GP the following year, rapidly becoming one of the most popular tracks of the entire MotoGP calendar. The circuit is situated in a valley in the south of Spain, offering spectacular views and nearly always characterized by excellent weather. Its numerous grandstands provide perfect viewing facilities for over 200,000 spectators and the track was resurfaced in 2005.