Fifty-Nine Attemps
It has taken fifty-nine attempts, but Andrea Iannone has found the top step of the MotoGP and joined an elusive club of exceptionally talented riders.
There is no doubting the talent of the Italian rider. For all his talent though, his head has not quite been there. Ducati were quick to tear up his 2017 contract after his hugely clumsy tumble with his team mate Andrea Dovizioso in Argentina. The tumble ended up costing the Bologna outfit a double podium. This had a big impact with the powers at Ducati. It was especially impactful with new owners Audi.
Battle Of The Andrea’s
While it may not be with Ducati, it is safe to say that Andrea Iannone’s signing with another factory must have been a tremendous boost for a man that could be shot of confidence. Suzuki’s bike has looked very good in the 2016 season in the hands of Maverick Viñales. Furthermore, Andrea Iannone’s head has far from departed from Ducati and it showed on Sunday.
Andrea Iannone’s Decisive Move
Prior to the race a big question loomed over Ducati as to what their tyre strategy would be. Both Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone rolled out on to the grid with the harder rear compound. They were expecting this to be the tyre of choice. Ducati were anticipating a threat from the Yamaha bikes who had also opted for the harder compound. Just minutes’ prior to the race Ducati decided to swap the medium rear and take maximum risk. This was credited to Andrea Iannone’s call on the grid to Ducati.
The lead swapped a few times throughout, but Andrea Iannone’s decisive move was met by Dovizioso having flash backs of Argentina. This allowed for a relatively easy overtake by Andrea Iannone. The medium rear tyre held in for the entire race. Even on the final lap, Andrea Iannone was able to pull the pin in the final few corners.
Andrea Iannone was very canny in the way he approached this race. In the laps he did lead he controlled the pace. This allowed him to keep the life in the softer compound tyre. While his team mate when in the lead never utilised the hard compound and did not push early on. This would have forced Andrea Iannone in to pushing harder and more likely to have tyre difficulties in the last ten laps in particular. If Ducati had pushed one wonders just how far could they have been in front of the Yamaha pair but more worryingly, how far ahead of Honda?
Developing Maturity
Not only was this a win for Andrea Iannone and the first for Ducati since 2010 with Casey Stoner, but it was a coming of age for the Italian. To have a Ducati contract torn up, switch factories and still dig deep and get a win on the Desmosedici prior to moving on to GSX-RR reflects the developing brain of the rider.
Arguably, at 27 years old you would think it would already be there. However, some riders do develop later than others. If his late 20’s and early 30’s are to be his golden years, then expect some fireworks from ‘The Maniac’.
