Andrea Dovizioso will leave the Ducati MotoGP squad at the end of the season, his management confirmed in Austria this morning.
The Italian’s manager Simone Battistella confirmed to Sky Sport Italia that he and Dovizioso had “communicated” to Ducati that the three-time premier class championship runner-up would not continue with them following the conclusion of the 2020 campaign.
The two parties had been locked in a stalemate over contract negotiations over the past couple of months, leading to speculation Dovizioso could be replaced by either Jorge Lorenzo or Pramac Ducati racer Francesco Bagnaia for next year.
Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali further fanned the flames of a potential split after talking down Dovizioso’s race performances over the past several campaigns with the Bologna-based manufacturer during the Dovizioso Undaunted documentary released earlier this year.
Domenicali reckoned that the 2004 125cc world champion lacked the “touch of madness that maybe the ‘Ducatisti’ would appreciate”, while Ducati general manager Gigi D’alligna added: “I’d like to see him more instinctive and less thoughtful, especially in race situations. Let’s be clear, being a rationaliser lets you bring home the best possible result in some races, but in others, you need to let the other horse run, so to speak. In this, Andrea could probably do better.”
Battistella confirmed to Sky Sports that Dovizioso would complete the season in red, and confirmed that there are as yet “no negotiations” with other teams over a ’21 ride.
“We have communicated to Ducati that Andrea has no intention of continuing for the next few years, that he now wants to concentrate on the next races, but that there are no conditions to continue together.
“He will not leave the MotoGP (prior to end of ’20 campaign), even if there are no negotiations underway with other teams: it was a reflection made in the last period, Andrea feels much more serene now that he has made this decision.”
Ducati Sporting Director Paulo Ciabatti has since spoken out on the news of Dovizioso’s departure, stating the goal of finally securing Ducati’s first MotoGP riders title since Casey Stoner in ’07 remained firmly in their sights.
“We met Simone this morning here at the Red Bull Ring and realized that unfortunately there are not the conditions to continue our relationship with Dovi beyond the end of the current contract.
“Ducati and Andrea will now fully concentrate on the remainder of the 2020 MotoGP season starting from tomorrows Austrian GP, with the common goal to add more wins to the 13 first places already achieved together and fight for the title until the end of the championship.”
Dovizioso has claimed 13 victories in his nearly eight-seasons with Ducati since joining the squad from Tech 3 Yamaha ahead of the ’13 campaign, and has been the closest man to topping runaway title man Marc Marquez over the past three years.
Any possible landing pad for Dovizioso is currently unknown, with most front-running outfits now having secured their riding line-ups for next year.
The only factory with an opening is currently Aprilia, although due to the so-far underwhelming new RS-GP Dovizioso may decide instead to take a sabbatical year with an eye to a return to MotoGP in ’22.
