Andrea Dovizioso happy to be tipped as favourite for MotoGP Qatar
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso says he's "glad" to be considered the favourite for victory in the opening round of the new MotoGP season in Qatar
Although Dovizioso did not top of any of the nine days of pre-season testing, his long run pace in the final pre-season test at the Losail track has marked him out as one of the main contenders ahead of the curtain raiser on March 18.
Reigning champion Marc Marquez estimated Dovizioso to be "six or seven tenths" faster after the second day of Qatar testing, expressing concern at the apparent ease with which his rival was able to set competitive laptimes.
"I'm glad so many people think that, and I'm very happy with how the test went," said Dovizioso when asked about his perceived status as Qatar favourite.
"I knew we would be strong, but it went better than expected.
"All three days, in slightly different conditions, the times came easily, which is something that doesn't happen often.
"We are certainly helped by the bike, which works well on this track and this year even a bit more, so we are more competitive than last year."
Among the things tested by Dovizioso over the winter were a new type of chassis and an updated aerodynamic fairing, which made its debut in the second test in Thailand.
The Italian said a choice on the chassis to be used for the Qatar race has still not been made, but he believes it won't make a big difference to his prospects either way.
"We worked well from Malaysia onwards," Doviziozo added.
"We tried everything we had to try and this is not always the case because problems can happen and the tyres are limited.
"We have quite a clear idea, especially on the fairing. We have more doubts on the chassis, but I can be quite fast with both [types]. We will make a choice before the first race."
Marc Marquez shows Honda MotoGP riders 'have to crash' - Morbidelli
Tech3 MotoGP team says keeping Johann Zarco 'not impossible'
Bautista thinks MotoGP rumours distracted Razgatlioglu in WSBK
Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista believes talks of a potential MotoGP switch left Toprak Razgatlioglu distracted and compromised his start to the 2022 World Superbike Championship.
Marquez “will be professional” to the end of Honda MotoGP deal
Alex Marquez says he will remain “professional” through to the end of his Honda MotoGP contract with LCR despite recently admitting a loss of motivation at the team.
Retiring MotoGP ace Dovizioso "really didn't expect" Yamaha struggles
Retiring 15-time MotoGP race winner Andrea Dovizioso admits he "really didn't expect" to encounter the struggles he has in adapting to the Yamaha MotoGP bike.
2022 MotoGP title fight now “very tight”, says Aleix Espargaro
Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro believes the current MotoGP championship picture following the British Grand Prix has set up “a very, very tight” title battle.
The signs Quartararo’s 2022 MotoGP title is slipping away from him
Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. But a crash at Assen and the consequential penalty he had to serve last weekend at Silverstone stopped him from capitalising on a main rival’s injury woes, while a resurgence from another, plus the rise of a former team-mate, look set to conspire against the Yamaha rider
Why Marquez’s toughest MotoGP foe is stopping at the right time
On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso announced that he will be retiring from MotoGP after September’s San Marino GP. The timing of his departure raised eyebrows, but his reasoning remains sensible and what has happened this year should not diminish a hard-built legacy
Why a Suzuki refugee feels he deserves MotoGP's toughest challenge
Alex Rins’ MotoGP future was plunged into sudden doubt when Suzuki elected to quit the series at the end of 2022. Securing a deal with Honda to join LCR, he will now tread a path that many have fallen off from. But it was a move he felt his status deserved, and it’s a challenge – he tells Autosport - he faces with his eyes wide open…
How Formula 1 has driven MotoGP's changing nature
The hiring of technicians from Formula 1 has clearly contributed to a recent change in the MotoGP landscape, with the role of engineers gaining greater significance relative to the riders. Here's how this shift has come about
The revolution behind Aprilia's rise from MotoGP tail-ender to pack-leader
Coinciding with the arrival of Massimo Rivola as head of its MotoGP division, Aprilia has undergone an internal revolution that has spurred it from occupying last place in the team standings to leading the table in the space of just two years. Those entrenched in the project reveal how the ex-Ferrari F1 chief has achieved the dramatic turnaround
The battle Yamaha's wayward son is fighting to be fast again in MotoGP
Franco Morbidelli was long overdue a promotion to factory machinery when it finally came late last year, having finished runner-up in the 2020 standings on an old Yamaha package. But since then the Italian has been a shadow of his former self as he toils to adapt to the 2022 M1, and recognises that he needs to change his style to be quick on it
Why Honda and Yamaha have been left behind in MotoGP's new era
The once all-conquering Japanese manufacturers are going through a difficult period in MotoGP this season. With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. Key paddock figures explain why.
Who is Valentino Rossi’s newest MotoGP star?
Valentino Rossi’s protégés stole the show at Assen as Francesco Bagnaia stormed to victory to arrest a recent barren run. But it was the rider in second, on Bagnaia’s old bike, who had all eyes on him. Securing his and the VR46 team’s first MotoGP podium, Marco Bezzecchi has all the characteristics that made his mentor special