MotoGP 2012 Special: Andrea Dovizioso

The Italian rider faces his fifth season in the premier class, but for the first time since his debut in the world championship, in 2002, he does so aboard a bike that is not a Honda. After spending the last three years with the factory Repsol team, he joins Monster Tech3 Yamaha, with the aim of continuing to show that he can achieve great things in MotoGP.

The last few years have not been easy for Andrea, who, after winning at Donington Park in 2009, had not lived up to what was expected of a factory Honda rider. Moreover, the arrival of Casey Stoner to the team in 2011 left him practically out of the team, but by enforcing his contract, which would be renewed if he finished in the top 5, the team ended up with three riders.

The Italian has become accustomed to fighting against the odds for much of his career, since after winning the 125cc world title in 2004, his decision to race in the 250cc class left him slightly behind the all-powerful Aprilias. Even so, he managed to be runner-up in 2006 and 2007, staging great battles with Jorge Lorenzo, the champion in those years.

That is why his move to Yamaha’s satellite team is full of unknowns. On paper, the Tech3 bikes have been competitive within the second group of the battle, with great performances from Colin Edwards who scored two podiums in the last three seasons. We will have to see how his teammate, Cal Crutchlow, gets on in his second full season in MotoGP.

Having been in Jerez this weekend to present the team and carry out the final test before the start of the world championship in Qatar on April 8, where he set the seventh-best time, Dovizioso is delighted with his bike, as shown in the statements he made after these test days:

We still have to improve in some areas, but the base is very good. For us, understanding the bike is now more important than changing things, since I don’t yet have 100% confidence in it. At Sepang we learned a lot and although I still haven’t found the limit, I know I’m making progress. We have to improve a lot in the electronics, since it’s something very different from what I had on the Honda.

Photos | motogp.com