The only MotoGP rider present at the Bologna Motor Show was Andrea Dovizioso, on hand to drive a Citroën WRC in the Memorial Bettega race. After spending the last ten years with Honda, the Italian rider has decided to ride for the Tech 3 Yamaha satellite team next season. It wasn't an easy choice for him to make, but it was a calculated move. "It was the right time - Dovi said - Despite finishing third in the championship, Honda didn't show the interest in me that I was expecting, concentrating on Dani and Casey. So I decided to make an investment in my own future. Maybe I won't win right away, partly because I won't be on a factory team, but even at Honda you need to be on the internal HRC squad to be truly competitive and run at the front."
Despite being just 25 years old, Dovizioso is already thinking like a veteran. "The rider market will be completely open at the end of 2012 (Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa and Rossi all have contracts expiring, ed.). I really believe in this project; my objective is to have a good season and earn a factory Yamaha seat for 2013."
Andrea's competitiveness on the satellite M1 won't be fully understood until the next winter test sessions. "Going to Sepang will be very important for understanding the level we are at. It's a track that I like a lot, and compared to Valencia it's much better for understanding a bike's level of development."
With this in mind, Dovi isn't expecting the introduction of 1000cc engines to change the situation dramatically. "The bikes will have the same chassis and electronics, with only the power delivery changing. Stoner, Pedrosa and Lorenzo will still be the front runners. The Ducati will improve, but not enough to compete for the championship."
Of course 2012 will also see the introduction of CRT's. "It's clear that the current costs of running in MotoGP aren't sustainable, and that the racing isn't as exciting as it used to be, but the CRT concept confuses me. Dorna and the manufacturers are heading in opposite directions, but they need to get together and agree on a plan for the future. Us riders have no power in this respect. I understand if there needs to be a transition, but it needs to be done as quickly as possible. It's really ugly to be racing with two completely different bikes."
Despite having his sights firmly fixed on the future, Dovizioso often finds himself looking back on the loss of his rival, Marco Simoncelli. "I have to admit that what happened hit me harder than I expected - the Italian confessed - There was never a real friendship between us; there was only a rivalry, a big rivalry. But we always had tremendous respect for one another. His death had a very heavy impact on me."
Despite coming up together, both riders were very different – Dovizioso was very analytical, while Simoncelli was mostly instinctual. "We ended up on two different career paths. Mine was very linear, while Marco arrived a little bit later. But he still got there. He was a very tough competitor for me."
Then, after years of battling it out, Dovizioso was suddenly left without his nemesis. "Up until the day of his funeral, Marco was constantly on my mind, only then did I fully realize what had happened. Then I had to accept it and try to move on. Racing at Valencia helped a lot in this regard, because you can't think about anything other than riding while you are on track."
One of the most touching images from the funeral was Dovizioso hugging Paolo Simoncelli, Marco's father. "It was a really beautiful moment. It meant a lot to me, and I was happy to see his reaction. We said something important to one another, and it will remain something private between us."
source: GP One
