Marco Melandri: “Important year. I want to take Ducati to the top” [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]

Ducati - Marco Melandri it was one of the best surprises this year Suberbike. The rider from Ravenna, despite his long inactivity, hasn't forgotten how to fight in the middle of the group. We met him exclusively at the presentation of Global Cloud Data Center di Aruba to take stock of the current season and beyond.

Melandri, missed two rounds at the end of the world championship, but the title is already in the archive. How do you tackle the remaining races?

“There is a lot to do, then we will race at two tracks that I like and I want to finish well to present myself next year with an important business card”.

How do you rate your season?

“It was an important season. It wasn't easy to find yourself back in the mix after two years. I started very well, at a certain point I thought I would make a leap in quality, then there were some difficult races, but I managed to get competitive again. I discovered the bike's strengths and weaknesses and this will be useful to me next year."

What was the highlight of your season?

“The victory at Misano, but also the debut in Australia. I was immediately up front and it was fantastic because at that moment few people believed in me."

How did you experience the period of inactivity?

“It was difficult because I didn't stop by my own will. Inside I have always felt like a pilot. In the meantime I became a dad and opened my own e-commerce site, motowide.com, with a blog where I can find all-round advice on motorbikes."

Are you already thinking about next season?

“For now I'm very focused on Jerez. I want to end the season on a high note. Thinking about the next races means already thinking about next year."