In the last five years, if there’s one rider who’s repeatedly given Marc Marquez a taste of his own medicine, it is Andrea Dovizioso. The Italian has prevailed over the Spaniard in multiple last corner battles, a feat only a few MotoGP riders can boast about. However, Dovi’s illustrious MotoGP career will come to end later this year, as confirmed by the rider himself. This isn’t the end of his racing career, though, as there are a few options he can explore hereon.
Why Is Dovi Leaving MotoGP?
To know why Dovi’s leaving the paddock, we’ll have to take a trip down memory lane. Andrea had three mind-blowing seasons with the Factory Ducati team back in 2017, 2018, and 2019, finishing as the runner-up. However, due to salary negotiations and the pressure for a world title, the two Italian marquees parted ways in 2020. This is when Dovi announced he’d be taking a sabbatical from MotoGP while looking for another team.
The #04 then tested ride the Aprilia RS-GP a few times in 2021 but ended up signing a contract with Yamaha’s satellite team for 2022. While the switch from a Ducati to a Yamaha would never be easy, Dovi’s smooth riding style should’ve been perfect for the YZR-M1. This, however, was only true in theory. Right from his debut aboard the Yamaha in late 2021, Andrea has failed to end up in the top ten, let alone contend for the podium, and this seems to be the reason for him leaving.
In the words of Dovi:
What’s Next For Dovizioso, If Not MotoGP?
Believe it or not, there are a few options. First, the Italian rider can continue to race motorcycles either in WSBK (like Alvaro Bautista) or AMA (like Danilo Petrucci), or even BSB (like Scott Redding). There’s also a chance to make a Dakar debut, especially because Dovi has previously shown interest in motocross.
Apart from this, Dovi could also become a rider coach for future MotoGP riders. The ex-Ducati rider has been in close contact with Valentino Rossi for the past few months, and we just can't discount the possibility of seeing him join the VR46 campaign as a coach.