Andrea Dovizioso, MotoGP legend and current Yamaha test rider, knows all too well what it means to fight for world titles and share a team with world champions, which is something he is also.
Precisely for this and for many other reasons, his opinion counts and should count in any aspect.
In an interview given to GPOne he gave his opinion on the end of this season and the fight between Jorge Martín and Bagnaia, but he is already looking ahead to 2025 and the reality that Marc Márquez will be an official Ducati rider and teammate of the current title holder.
'Dovi' uses the famous saying “never say never” to describe the fight for the world championship. “Let's say that the situation is now quite clear, but anything can still happen and we have to see what the weather conditions will be like in Barcelona.
Then there is the question of the tyres that Michelin will bring. In my opinion, Martin has the situation under control and can manage it, something that was not the case until Malaysia.”
Once this season is over, and just two days later, the reality of Marc Marquez as an official Ducati rider will be palpable at the Barcelona tests.
“This year Marc has behaved very well: he made some mistakes, but they were all to be ready for next year. He needed time to adapt to the new situations, as well as to the bike.”
The current Yamaha test rider acknowledges that the number 93 has worked well and has improved many things at the end of the season. He also acknowledges that he has excellent consistency in performance for Ducati, although he needs to take small steps forward.
“The fact is that Marc has created the situation he wanted, that is, the one that will allow him to win other world championships, while Pecco will be put to the test.”
However, Pecco Bagnaia has a great chance, regardless of whether he wins the current championship, because beating an eight-time world champion like Marc Márquez on the same bike and in the same team could change the way some people view the Turin native, according to Dovizioso:
“In my opinion, if he were to win, Bagnaia would remove all the doubts that may arise around him, even though he is already a top-level rider.”
Next year there will be many world championships with Ducati Lenovo and this situation sounds familiar to Andrea Dovizioso, who shared a team with Jorge Lorenzo. Although it may seem similar, the Italian explains that there are nuances.
“Lorenzo was chosen because there were people within Ducati who did not believe in the riders they had bet on to win. Márquez is simply a preference, given that they already have a champion at home and the bike is already a winner.”
That said, his advice to the reigning world champion is to focus on himself and his own characteristics. He says that Lorenzo's presence gave him the opportunity to evolve and he considers it an advantage.
"Pecco must exploit his potential without looking too much outside and although having that reference is useful, if you start looking too much at others you run the risk of ending up outside the house."
