Portuguese GP, Dovizioso: “I feel lighter, but also pissed”

Andrea Dovizioso’s last meeting with the press as a Ducati rider and (at least for now) MotoGP rider has a special flavour, just as it should be. No tears, that’s not Dovi’s style, but many words and thoughts, in line with the intelligent, available guy Andrea has always proved to be.

“As I crossed the finish line, I was so focused on the championship that I wasn’t thinking about anything else, I was just considering how I’d probably achieved fourth in the standings - comments Dovi - My relationship with the team has been fantastic over the years and I’ll miss that of course. I’m angry when I think about not racing next year, as I still feel competitive, but at the same time I feel lighter as, regardless of the outcome this season, I wouldn’t have wanted to continue in this situation. I consider this to be my last race with Ducati, then we’ll see what happens in the future.”

The trip down memory lane continues, and while Andrea came to MotoGP as a young guy, he leaves it (temporarily?) as a mature man.

“You enter this world when you’re so young, you travel to all these places and meet people who are older and more experienced, which helps you to mature. The fact that this sport helps you to grow and progress is fantastic and the same goes for when you manage to achieve goals that you thought impossible. The experiences I’ve had have helped me understand that you can always learn more, in every regard, and this helps keep you alive, which is so cool”.

MotoGP, Andrea Dovizioso and the 2022 scenarios

 "Once home I won’t be on the sofa. My own team? Never say never"

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What will Dovizioso do now? Nothing different in terms of his training, but with less obligations to fulfil of course.

“I plan to do more MX now that I won’t have the many MotoGP commitments, and I’m pleased about that. I’m not heading home with the intention of lying around on the sofa, that’s just not me. I know it won’t be easy to find an interesting ride for 2022, but it’s not impossible. MotoGP is undergoing a generational change and we have to adapt to that. I’m not worried about being away from the chaos, I’ve always sought tranquillity, but it will be a big change of course.”

Perhaps Andrea’s future will see him take on the role of team manager, or coach.

“As for a team, never say never, but considering the complications involved I think you’d have to be mad to do it (he laughs). I think I might rather work at the technical level with the riders, but we’re not there yet.”

Dovizioso also talks about his race and the weekend in general, overall a positive one for the Italian.

“This weekend was tough in terms of the track, but I did OK. During the final stages of the race, I was less precise and had to battle, but I was able to achieve fourth in the championship, narrowly missing out on third, which is incredible if I consider my lack of confidence with the bike this season. The constructors’ title? It’s not particularly important to a rider”.

Translated by Heather Watson

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