Aruba.it Ducati’s Davide Giugliano was have been hoping to end his final race weekend with team with a couple of strong results in Qatar, but a reoccurring right shoulder injury put paid to that.
The Italian has been carrying the injury in his shoulder since the German round back in September, it forcing him out of both races at Magny-Cours just two weeks later. The Qatar weekend didn’t get off to the best of starts for Giugliano, the Ducati rider having to contest the first part of qualifying.
He progressed through to SP2 and proceeded to qualify his Panigale 11th for the final round of the season at the Losail International Circuits. Contact at Turn 1 at the start of Saturday’s encounter left him with some serious discomfort in his shoulder, and despite brilliantly battling from the back of the pack into the points again he retired in the latter stages of the race.
The Italian evaluated his condition in warm up on Sunday, but was later declared unfit to race. Though extremely disappointed for himself and the team, he ends 2016 with ‘many beautiful memories’ of his time with the Bologna manufacturer.
“As my shoulder was still healing, I knew that any kind of blow could intensify the pain, but I still wanted to try to finish the season on a high note,” he explained. “Unfortunately, the contact in Race 1 strained the tendons and aggravated the situation. There couldn’t have been a sadder way to say goodbye to the team and Ducati, but I carry many beautiful memories within me.
“I think that both me as a rider and the bike grew a lot together in all these years. I learned many lessons, and it’s been an intense journey because I believe that having me as a rider elicits a lot of emotions, for better and for worse. I want to give my special thanks to my crew, as they always worked until late night to give me the best tools to race. Also thanks to the whole team and Ducati, who have always made me feel appreciated and worked so hard. I wish them all the best!”
The Italian now faces an uncertain winter, as his future plans for 2017 remain unclear. He has said in the past that he has options to remain in the WorldSBK paddock, though has also contemplated a switch to Grand Prix racing and to the Moto2 World Championship. Hopefully all will be revealed before the year is out.
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