MotoGP, Dovizioso: “Only testing with Aprilia, no races”

Rain came down in the Mugello valley today, soaking the Tuscan asphalt. While Andrea Dovizioso was able to make a good start to his Aprilia test yesterday, bad weather impacted on today’s work schedule: "Unfortunately the weather conditions have been terrible – he confirms – yesterday I was only able to make a couple of exits, and couldn’t push as I wanted. We’ve used only a few tyre solutions, because the grip was less than ideal. We’ve tried some different seat positions, but today’s track conditions limited us. In the end, we’ve been unlucky. It was important to complete the work we had scheduled here at Mugello but we were not able to do so. The things we have tried gave good feedback but as for everything else we’ve not moved forward".

Do you want to test again and perhaps prepare for a GP?

“I’m not interesting in talking about a race right now. I haven’t been able to really push with the RS-GP, so there’s no valid reason to plan a GP. We’ll see, if there’s a chance to do some more testing, we can talk”.

To what extent has the RS-GP grown? Dovi doesn’t give too much away

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The Italian four-cylinder grows from race to race, proving to be increasingly competitive. What does Andrea think? Is the bike really ready to achieve strong results? Andrea says little: "I don’t have a lot to say, as I’ve only tested it twice. The first Jerez test was spent modifying things to help my riding. I could only have pushed with a perfect seat position and so that wasn’t possible, given it was my first time riding the RS-GP".

How did you approach the test?

"I stayed calm, with the aim of understanding the reactions the bike transmitted. Here at Mugello, I’ve done very little, despite the layout of the track being interesting in terms of allowing me to provide better indications. We didn’t lap enough but it was important to ride at two contrasting types of track”.

Dovi-Aprilia, is there any future?

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The most asked question is this one of course – might there be anything more between Andrea Dovizioso and Aprilia? Will the parties find a way to race together. The rider comments: "I believe in myself, and in what I’m doing in life. This isn’t the time to talk about the future. I’m quite happy, because I have time to do many things that I wasn’t able to do previously”.

But the Dovi-Aprilia pairing is appealing, don’t you think?

“I admit that it’s nice to see people calling for my return to MotoGP. Honestly, my fans are interested in MX, they want me in MotoGP. They want me back as soon as possible, maybe with Aprilia. Also because the team is doing well with Aleix Espargaró, so my fans hope that I too can race with the RS-GP. I’ve noticed that the fans have a very short memory and so it’s normal to forget what a rider’s done in the last two years. But I’m surrounded by enthusiasm and I like that. I don’t know what will happen, it’s too soon. I don’t know”.

Mugello, a magical track. Misano? A test yes, then who knows...

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Dovizioso didn’t come across his former ‘flame’, the Ducati, in action with MotoGP test rider Michele Pirro: "Michele and I went for dinner last night, we’re friends and share a good relationship. I didn’t come across him on track unfortunately. I have to say that Mugello is special though. I remember when I used to leave the house to travel to the GP, few tracks are as special as this one, but we haven’t been lucky with the weather”.

There is talk of another test at Misano, a prelude to a GP?

"Yes, Aprilia and I will test at Misano. We want to do another test. That’s the decision for now. As for the rest, we’ll talk".

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP, Aprilia: the podium is just a question of time