The name of Andrea Dovizioso will not have disappeared from MotoGP news for long. At the end of last season, the Italian finished an eight-year lease with Ducati to take a sabbatical year organized around his passion: motocross. His contacts with KTM and Aprilia ultimately proved unsuccessful and Dovi thus put himself in reserve for the category while waiting for an interesting project. Since then, the new Aprilia RS-GP has become attractive and a test was carried out in Jerez. Then another will take place at Mugello and the comments from the parties are so positive that they suggest the prospect of a journey together. And KTM, which had also been approached in its time? The brand responds, with the frankness we know.
Andrea Dovizioso seems well on track to find a MotoGP through a Aprilia RS-GP. Noale's new opus is promising and the first laps made by the Italian at Jerez with him aroused his interest. The brand is more than interested in the prospect of a collaboration. Which is understandable: Noale's men can only count on Aleix Espargaró to bring their project to life. Next to the Spanish, we find Lorenzo Savadori while no test pilot is in operation. A precariousness that could put people in great difficulty Aprilia if one of its only two pilots were injured.
Aprilia also needs experience. HAS 35 years, and with his status as triple vice-world champion, Andrea Dovizioso is the right man. But as for the rest of the brands involved in MotoGP, it is rather new blood that is sought. So Dovi doesn't enter the frame. A situation that is true with KTM. The sports director of the Austrian coat of arms explains on speedweek : " the subject of Dovizioso does not exist with us at the moment. He is and will remain a friend of the house. But we are not going to negotiate a MotoGP deal with him. You should never say never in MotoGP, but I can almost certainly rule that out ».
KTM: “Dovizioso is no longer the right person at 35”
The boss of the race KTM even develops his position: “ a generational change is underway in the MotoGP category. So we need to think about what the future will reveal and who the young diamonds in the rough are in the paddock. In this context, Dovi is no longer the right person at 35. In a young project like ours, you should try to succeed with young drivers. This system has already proven itself very well for us with Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira ».
« We have a very clear task in the MotoGP world championship. We train young talents in our MotoGP academy in the team of Aki Ajo and Hervé Poncharal. This is a clear title and message for us. We will definitely try to recruit the next MotoGP riders from our own ranks at KTM when they are ready ».
During the season, KTM will decide whether, for example, a Moto2 rider like Remy gardner, currently leader of the world championship or Raúl Fernández, beginner in the category and already his runner-up in the provisional general classification will have to be promoted to the premier category for 2022. On the youth side in the shape of a rough diamond, there is also Peter Acosta who surprises at 16 years old in Moto3. But be careful, not all of these names will necessarily be won over by an RC16 upon arrival. George Martin, for example, is currently on a GP21…
