Andrea Dovizioso To Retire from MotoGP after 2022 San Marino GP
Yamaha
Motor Co., Ltd. announce that MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso has decided to
retire from MotoGP after the upcoming Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera
di Rimini.
Dovizioso
and Yamaha have maintained a warm relationship since he completed a successful
season with the Tech3 Yamaha satellite team in 2012, resulting in six third
places and fourth place in the final standings. He rejoined Yamaha’s satellite
rider line-up at the 2021 San Marino GP when Franco Morbidelli moved up to the
Factory Team.
Dovizioso was originally planning to stay with the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP
Racing Team for the entire 2022 MotoGP season, riding a factory-spec YZR-M1 and
receiving full support from Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., but recently decided to end
his career at his Misano home race.
Yamaha’s
official test rider Cal Crutchlow will be the substitute rider for the WithU
Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team for the remaining six races of the 2022 season.
Lin Jarvis
Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
Andrea Dovizioso
WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Rider
I thank Lin for his words, I totally
agree with them. In 2012, the experience with the Iwata manufacturer in MotoGP
had been very positive for me and since then I have always thought that, sooner
or later, I would have liked to have an official contract with Yamaha. This
possibility presented itself, actually in a somewhat daring way, during 2021. I decided to
give it a try because I strongly believed in this project and in the
possibility of doing well.
"Unfortunately, in recent years MotoGP has changed
profoundly. The situation is very different since then: I have never felt
comfortable with the bike, and I have not been able to make the most of its
potential despite the precious and continuous help from the team and the whole
of Yamaha.
"The results were negative, but beyond that, I still consider it a
very important life experience. When there are so many difficulties, you need
to have the ability to manage the situation and your emotions well. We did not
reach the desired objectives, but the consultations with the Yamaha technicians
and with those of my team have always been positive and constructive, both for
them and for me. The relationship remained loyal and professionally interesting
even in the most critical moments: it was not so obvious that that would
happen.
"For all this and for their support, I
thank Yamaha, the RNF Racing Team, WithU, and the other sponsors involved in the
project. It didn't go as we hoped, but it was right to try. My adventure
will end in Misano, but the relationship with all the people involved in this
challenge will remain intact forever. Thank you all.
I want to start by saying that, of course, we are all sad that Andrea will be leaving the sport earlier than expected. He is a big name in MotoGP, and he will be missed in the paddock.
"We considered ourselves very lucky last year that he was available and willing to join our MotoGP programme when Franky switched to the Yamaha Factory Team thus creating the need for a replacement rider for the remainder of the 2021 season. Andrea’s great expertise, experience, and methodical nature were of great interest to Yamaha and the RNF team and the project was fixed to include the full 2022 season.
"Unfortunately, Andrea has struggled to extract the maximum potential out of the M1 and thus the results have not been forthcoming, which has created understandable frustration for Andrea. Finally during the summer break, he confirmed to us his desire to retire before the end of the season.
"After mutual discussions it was deemed appropriate for Andrea to ride his final race in Misano at his home GP. Naturally, Yamaha will continue to give ‘Dovi’ their full support over the next three races. In the meantime, let’s enjoy his last three GPs and celebrate in Misano the end of a spectacular career.