MOTOGP: Ducati to talk to riders after costly clash

Ducati will hold discussions with riders Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizoso this week after Iannone cost it a double MotoGP podium finish in Argentina on Sunday.

Dovizioso and Iannone looked set to finish second and third in Termas de Rio Hondo having dispatched Yamaha's Valentino Rossi late in the shortened, flag-to-flag race. However, entering the final complex of corners on the last lap, Iannone collided with Dovizioso, handing Rossi and Dani Pedrosa unexpected podium positions.

Dovizioso managed to push his Ducati over the finish line in 13th, while Iannone retired and has been handed a three-place grid penalty for this weekend's Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin.

Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti said there would be further discussions with the riders when they arrive in Texas.

"Obviously it's a big disappointment," he told MotoGP.com. "We know that Iannone was trying to get a better position and he didn't do it on purpose.

"Riders must consider the interest of Ducati and the championship, we are just at the second race and this podium would have been very important for us. Now we have to look forward to the next race, luckily it is only in one week.

"We will talk to both riders on Thursday in Austin and give them our point of view on what we expect between them in the race.

The result would have been Ducati's first double podium in 12 months, and put a "very disappointed" Dovizioso second in the championship, one point behind Marquez.

"When I arrived at the penultimate corner, I lost the front and brought down Dovizioso in the crash," Iannone said. "Unfortunately that's the way it went and I am really sorry for my team, for Andrea and for everyone in Ducati because a podium today with both riders would have been an exceptional result."

Originally on Autosport.com