What now for Andrea Dovizioso?
MCN talks to the three-time MotoGP runner-up’s manager, Simone Batistella, about his options in the wake of the Ducati split
Nobody has given Marquez a closer run for his money over the last three years than Andrea Dovizioso. Only Marquez has won more races and scored more podiums than Dovizioso during a period of utter dominance from the Spaniard. Which is why the MotoGP paddock was rocked recently by the news that Dovizioso and Ducati will split at the end of 2020.
With no plan B, Dovizioso’s decision raised one big question. What next for undaunted Dovi? MCN spoke exclusively to his London-based manager Simone Batistella to explore options for Dovi’s next move in 2021.
Will he choose to retire?
Dovizioso certainly doesn’t need to continue to satisfy his bank balance. He’s already a multi-millionaire but Batistella said the 34-year-old Italian is not ready to end his career. “That would be the last option. Andrea feels like he still has plenty to offer. He is determined and motivated to race, so we haven’t discussed retirement. Andrea doesn’t need to race, and I’m not talking about the financial side. But he wants to race. He is hungry for racing and the only reason he wants to continue is because he still wants to compete and prove himself.”
What about a year out?
Talk of a 12-month sabbatical has already emerged, but like retirement it doesn’t figure prominently on Dovizioso’s list of potential alternative options. A sabbatical would also be a risky option given the fact that most top seats are already filled for 2022. Batistella said: “The only way I can see Andrea taking a year out is if any proposal we receive isn’t interesting for him. But if there is nothing interesting for him next year then he will be happy to sit out and try and return again in 2022. That is one probable situation.”
Could he become a test rider?
Any manufacturer would be foolish to ignore the wealth of experience and knowledge Dovizioso offers. He is known as ‘The Professor’ because of his methodical and analytical approach and his speed and intelligence would unquestionably be an asset to any project.
The potential for Suzuki and Aprilia independent teams in 2022 means both could be interested in hiring him as a test rider next year before offering him a full-time race seat the following season. Batistella said: “We have received messages and calls from every manufacturer apart from obviously Ducati since Andrea’s announcement. Is there an opportunity at the moment? No. Factories are now discussing internally to see what project they can submit to Andrea. For 2022 there could be big changes and that will open up more bikes because as I understand it every manufacturer will have an independent team. I think the most probable scenario out of all the options would be for him to have a testing role next year with the provision for wildcards and a racing position in 2022. In terms of percentages for everything being discussed, I would say that is the highest at the moment. A test rider role where there is a race position for 2022 would prepare him and the bike better for that season. A hybrid between a full-time racer and test rider would be ideal because if you have Andrea available you would not simply use him to put miles on parts.”
Will he go to Aprilia?
The Noale factory appear to have the only potential vacancy for 2021, although they are in limbo now Andrea Iannone’s appeal against a doping ban won’t be judged until October. Aleix Espargaro has launched a one-man hard sell campaign to get Dovizioso on an RS-GP next season but management fear they simply can’t afford him. Batistella said: “We haven’t discussed it, but we are not in a hurry to reach a decision on Andrea’s future. There’s no pressure or time frame. I’ve not talked about this with Andrea or with Aprilia. I don’t think that is an option simply because Aprilia is sticking to its decision to wait for Iannone. If it comes up, then we’d be happy to discuss it.”
Was KTM a serious option?
Dovizioso has a long-standing relationship with Red Bull, who provide the financial muscle behind KTM. The Austrian brand has been linked with Dovizioso before its sensational start to 2020 and recent paddock gossip has suggested the Italian could be drafted into the Tech3 squad.
The reshuffle could have seen Iker Lecuona switched back to Moto2 to replace Pramac Ducati-bound Jorge Martin. But back-to-back top 10 finishes for Lecuona have made a rejig highly unlikely and Batistella said: “I don’t think this is an option because contracts are already in place. I have no idea about options that KTM has with any of its riders in terms of whether they can be moved around. KTM have not come to us to talk about this. We had a negotiation with KTM in May and we simply couldn’t find an agreement. At that time, we were in the middle of the Covid lockdown, nobody had any idea about the championship or how companies would react in terms of losses and budgets. But it was probably a mistake from both sides not to get the deal done. It’s very easy to say it now and at that time it was very difficult to judge but we had no idea how competitive they were going to become. We saw them fast in testing but that can be for many reasons because nobody knows what you are testing or how hard the riders are pushing. KTM didn’t know how much they would excel this year because they didn’t know what the competition was doing.”
Would he race in WSB?
It would a huge coup for World Superbikes to lure a talent of Dovizioso’s stature, but don’t get too excited just yet.
WSB is not even registering on his radar at present and all his focus is on staying involved in MotoGP. “He is not thinking about that at all,” said Batistella. “Motorsport is a sliding door business and it is very difficult to predict what is going to happen even in the next month, but Andrea is relaxed and waiting to see what comes up. WSB is not something he is considering but never say never.”
‘It was probably a mistake not to get the deal done’
‘He still wants to compete and prove himself’