Iannone's Austin MotoGP podium the 'minimum' to repay Ducati

While running third behind team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, Iannone lost the front end of his Desmosedici GP at the penultimate corner on the last lap at Termas de Rio Hondo, ending his race and dropping Dovizioso down to 13th.

Iannone also crashed out of the Qatar season opener, but when Dovizioso was eliminated from the Circuit of the Americas race as well by Honda's Dani Pedrosa it helped him claim his first podium finish of the season.

With Jorge Lorenzo expected to be announced as a 2017 Ducati rider in the coming weeks, all eyes were on Iannone, especially as he had only finished one of the preceding six races.

"The first two races of the season were difficult," he said.

"This podium is very important for us, I dedicate it to all of Ducati and all of my team, because after Argentina, this is the minimum.

"I needed this podium. I had a really bad moment, one of the baddest of my career, I have a lot of pressure from a lot of people and a lot of people looking at me.

"It was a very, very difficult moment."

Iannone revealed post-race that it was not all smooth sailing, having made contact and Pedrosa and Suzuki's Aleix Espargaro on the first lap.

"On the first corner I touched with Dani, and also at the second corner with Aleix Espargaro," he said.

"It was very difficult from the beginning and I tried to stay safe, but in any case this is a very good moment for me."

AGREED WITH GRID PENALTY

Iannone had qualified fourth on Saturday but dropped to seventh due to his penalty for the clash with Dovizioso, a decision he elected not to appeal.

"It was a very bad moment and I agree with the penalty," he said.

"For me it's correct that I started one row back.

"I think this is a good decision and this year everything is different, the people were more aggressive with me, with everybody, and it's good."