07 June 2024 by Luigi Ciamburro
Andrea Dovizioso returned to the MotoGP paddock at Mugello. The former Honda, Ducati and Yamaha rider is open to the possibility of being a test rider.
Andrea Dovizioso returned to the MotoGP paddock for the Mugello GP, two months after the serious injury he suffered in motocross. He is not yet in his best physical condition, but the opportunity was too good to go back and hug his old friends. The former Ducati rider surprisingly confesses a secret dream: returning to the premier class!
Dovizioso dreams of a return
The Forlì native said goodbye to the MotoGP championship at the end of the 2022 season, after a difficult experience with the satellite team Yamaha. A world title in the 125cc class under his belt, three times world vice champion with the Desmosedici, he made a big contribution to the evolution of the Red when it was still an immature prototype. His career lacked the icing on the cake, winning a MotoGP World Championship, but he had the best Marc Marquez in history ahead of him. Dedicated to racing and projects on dirt roads, Dovi has never forgotten the asphalt of the Top Class, where he dreams of one day returning. Even if in the role of the test driver…
In an interview with MotoGP.com, Andrea Dovizioso addresses various topics, starting with former rival Marc Marquez, who has returned to the limelight thanks to Ducati. His incredible ability to adapt to the Desmosedici is to be admired. “What he did, the speed with which he adapted to the Ducati, is something very special and complicated, even if the bike is one of the best. The way he brakes this year is totally different, he had to completely change the way he manages braking. From the outside I think he hasn’t adapted 100% yet, but he’s there. And this only confirms his talent even though he is no longer a young driver“.
Andrea applies as a tester
Frantic market negotiations continue in the MotoGP paddock, after the Jorge Martin-Aprilia and Marc Marquez-Ducati factory moves. There is also room for future test riders, with Aleix Espargaro very close to signing with Honda. The 38-year-old Andrea Dovizioso hopes to carve out a space for himself next year and put his long experience at the service of some constructor.
For now it is only a remote hypothesis, but nothing can be ruled out…”For the moment I have no plans… It’s always nice when a factory calls you to talk about your future. I had the opportunity to do it when I retired, but at that time I didn’t want to do anything, just retire and take a break. But I’ve always left the door open, because I’m not too old yet and everyone knows that my feeling can help the development of a bike. I don’t know right now, maybe it’s early, but the door is open“.
Photo: MotoGP.com
