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Dovizioso, Crutchlow, Iannone at Ducati, Hope for Much Better New MotoGP Bike

Things seem to play out well for Ducati, as this weekend brought official confirmation for its two best riders: Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow will be at the helm of the factory bikes in the 2015 season. Dovizioso in fact has signed a new two-year contract with Borgo Panigale, reaffirming his commitment to the Italian team.
Dovizioso and Crutchlow 12 photos
Photo: Ducati
Cal CrutchlowCal CrutchlowGigi Dall'IgnaDucati teamAndrea Dovizioso & Gigi Dall'IgnaCal Crutchlow and Andrea DoviziosoAndrea DoviziosoAndrea DoviziosoAndrea DoviziosoCal CrutchlowCal Crutchlow
At the same time, it looks like Crutchlow agreed to remain with the Italian manufacturer for the second half of his contract, even though he had the opportunity to put a premature end to it after the Valencia round. Both riders appear to have been finally convinced by Gigi Dall’Igna to have more patience and wait for the 2015 Desmosedici which he is currently developing.

Ducati has finally started to show some performance improvements, even though Crutchlow’s bike has been ridden with various technical problems in most of the races in the first half of the season. Still, Dall’Igna says that the new Ducati will be drastically changed in 2015, finally providing the riders with a much better chance to show what they can do on the track.

Pramac Ducati rider Andrea Iannone is also rumored to have reached an agreement with the team, and he will reportedly ride a factory bike, as well, even though under the sponsor colors of Pramac. Paddock whispers also speak of a tobacco manufacturer whose logo might be present on the factory machines in 2015. No word on whether Yonny Hernandez will be wearing red leathers this year, too.

With the three main riders Ducati fields this year confirmed for at least one more season, this makes Suzuki’s two factory seats an even more interesting affair. It was no secret that Davide Brivio was eyeing Dovizioso, Crutchlow and Iannone (among others) for a factory ride on Hamamatsu machinery, but it looks like the plans have changed.

With Aleix Espargaro being not only the fastest Open Class rider in MotoGP but also keen to get a factory bike, we might just see him on Suzuki machinery. It is yet uncertain how much is Suzuki willing to spend for its riders, but it will have to be an attractive figure to make the new XRH-1 prototype and its yet uncertain competitiveness attractive.

In the end, the lack of such certainty seems to have definitely played an important role in Crutchlow’s choice. Even if he and Suzuki have been rumored to be closer and closer to striking a deal, it appears like the smaller wage and yet another gamble (as far as the bike was concerned) have been less appealing than what Ducati promised for 2015.

Now, the Czech Republic round brings a new bodywork for Ducati, while Gigi Dall’Igna is working hard to get the new engine ready for the Aragon test, in late September. The current goal for Ducati before the end of the season is to reduce the race gap to less than 10 seconds. A pretty tough job, Dall’Igna admits, but with the trust of the riders and their commitment to give their best, the Ducati Corse manager hopes a new dawn for Borgo Panigale is drawing nearer.
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