Source: Supplied.

Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso saw any chance of winning the 2017 MotoGP World Championship come to a premature conclusion after crashing out of the Valencia finals with six laps remaining.

Dovizioso had engaged in a battle with team-mate Jorge Lorenzo – appearing to ignore team requests before he too went down – but exited the race and title-fight in the gravel while running P3.

A mistake of eventual four-time championship winner Marc Marquez also saw the Repsol Honda rider almost crash out directly prior to the double Ducati disaster, however it was always looking to be Marquez’s title to lose this weekend.

“I tried everything and I think that we have to be pleased with this weekend,” he reflected. “We weren’t as quick as Marquez, but we fought to the very end. I pushed hard right from the first lap, I didn’t make any mistakes and I put myself in the right position but unfortunately I didn’t have many cards to play. At the start I thought I could pass Jorge, but there were some points where I was losing and others were I was gaining.

“In the end staying behind him helped me ride in a smoother way, so it was positive he was in front of me. We were all at the limit, even Marc who managed to save himself once again from a crash, and I want to congratulate him because also this year he managed to make the difference. At any rate I’m very happy with this season and I want to thank all the guys in the team, Ducati and all those who gave their support because our season has been over the top, full of satisfaction.”

Dovizioso, who had to win and hope Marquez finished lower than 11th to take the title, wrapped up the season in the runner-up position, ultimately winning six races and fighting for the title right down to the last round in what was his best premier class campaign yet.