After 20 years in Grand Prix racing, Andrea Dovizioso will retire as a rider at the Yamaha satellite team WithU Yamaha RNF Racing. Dovizioso’s final race will be the upcoming San Marino GP, leaving six races before the end of the season. Yamaha indicates Cal Crutchlow will fill in for Dovizioso at those rounds.
Dovizioso has struggled to find any pace on his Yamaha this year, frequently finishing near the back of the pack. Dovizioso has had a successful GP career beginning with a World championship in the 125cc category in 2004, and eventually finishing runner-up in points to Marc Marquez in the MotoGP category three years in a row, 2017 through 2019. With many race wins and podiums to his credit, Dovizioso undoubtedly found himself in an unfamiliar position this year as a back-marker on a bike that only Fabio Quartararo has been able to master.
Here is the press release from Yamaha:
| Silverstone (UK), 4th August 2022 |
| 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  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. |
| 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. |
| NOTES – Andrea Dovizioso – Personal Profile Date of birth: 23 March 1986 Place of birth: Forlimpopoli, Italy Nationality: Italian Height: 165cm Weight: 68Kg Rider number: 4 First Grand Prix Win: 2004 South Africa GP (125cc) Grand Prix Wins: 24 (15 MotoGP, 4 250cc, 5 125cc) Podiums: 103 (62 MotoGP, 26 250cc, 15 125cc) Pole Positions: 20 (7 MotoGP, 4 250cc, 9 125cc) Fastest Laps: 22 (11 MotoGP, 8 250cc, 3 125cc) Racing Career 2022 MotoGP World Championship (22nd – 10 points) [11 GPs into the season] 2021 MotoGP World Championship (24th – 12 points) [only took part in 5 GPs] 2020 MotoGP World Championship (4th – 135 points) 2019 MotoGP World Championship (2nd – 269 points) [Vice Champion] 2018 MotoGP World Championship (2nd– 245 points) [Vice Champion] 2017 MotoGP World Championship (2nd – 261 points) [Vice Champion] 2016 MotoGP World Championship (5th – 171 points) 2015 MotoGP World Championship (7th – 162 points) 2014 MotoGP World Championship (5th – 187 points) 2013 MotoGP World Championship (8th – 140 points) 2012 MotoGP World Championship (4th – 218 points) 2011 MotoGP World Championship (3rd – 228 points) 2010 MotoGP World Championship (5th – 206 points) 2009 MotoGP World Championship (6th – 160 points) 2008 MotoGP World Championship (5th – 174 points) [Rookie of the Year, Top Independent Rider] 2007 250cc World Championship (2nd – 260 points) [Vice Champion] 2006 250cc World Championship (2nd – 272 points) [Vice Champion] 2005 250cc World Championship (3rd – 189 points) 2004 125cc World Championship (1st – 293 points) [World Champion] 2003 125cc World Championship (5th – 157 points) 2002 125cc World Championship (16th – 42 points) |
To me it’s not really surprising that he has decided to call it quits before the end of the year as he is riding a 2022 spec bike ,the same spec as Fabio & Frankie (???), his performance thus far has been dissapointing to himself & the team & his words “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.” tell the tale .
The person who must be shaking his head & wandering what has happened with his luck is Razlan Razali ,team principal Petronas SRT from 2019 untill 2021 & now team principal of WithU Yamaha RNF , his two present riders Dovi & D Binder(IMO big mistake) are 22nd & 21 st in the standings ,a far cry from 2019-2020 season when Frankie & Fabio were running at the top and constantly in the top 10 , and next year he will have to start all over again with two new riders & a new bike & manufacturer ,I wish him well for 2023 ,must have alot of patience.
I’m sure he’s disappointed. He can go and have drinks with the principals at HRC who aren’t doing any better and don’t have anyone else to blame..
Racing against Rossi in his prime is like golfing against Tiger in his prime. “Dovi-who?”
I certainly enjoyed watching him race especially with MM. Those last corner smash-em ups reminded me of Rossi type antics. I’m gonna go find some DVDs I recorded (yea I’m old) and relive some fun times. Thanks Dovi!
Dovi is a class act and a credit to the sport. I was always impressed with his ability to maintain his calm demeanor both on and off the track while having to compete with a reckless Marc Marquez. I wish that we was able to retire under better circumstances.
Odd that he is racing one more race and not finishing the season. Maybe Crutchlow won’t be ready and they want the bike on the track.
What a strange world we live in. But for one voodoo wizard alien Honda and Yamaha, the two manufacturers that have forever battled for supremacy, are now the makers of backmarker bikes. From the looks of things right now. Next season will all be about euro bikes and Q. The Japanese are such a proud people. They must be having a tough time.
I imagine he’s doing the race to finish in front of an Italian crowd.
Also possibly to give the team some runway to organize Crutchlow’s transition back into the schedule.
For sure. Even if he told Yamaha at the beginning of the summer break, that’s not long from Crutchlow into get into race-fit condition.
“Next season will all be about euro bikes and Q.”
As was last season; as is this season.
I kind of forgot he was even out there this season. I’m sure he’s having no fun at the moment. It was a career to be proud of.
It really was, capped off by leading Ducati and the rest of the paddock to the realization that Marquez and his Honda could be beaten head to head. It’s too bad that he had to finish his career so far back in the group. Had he found an amicable way to stay on that Ducati there’s no doubt that he’d have remained much closer to the front.
I agree with that assessment. Honestly, his failure to put a championship together in 2020 after Marquez skittled out was puzzling to me. I thought for sure it would be a fight between Dovi and FQ, but he never really managed to get into the running to begin with. But I think that was probably an anomaly, and he would have been a threat once again the following year had he stayed on the Ducati.
Supposedly, Michelin changed the rear tires in 2020 and Dovizioso has had a hard time trying to adapt to it.
I believe you’re right about that.
Yes, he was famouse. Radio transmisions that he was first here and there.
I agree, champions win championships. Period
He was good. Never great. I wouldn’t know who he was if I didn’t follow the sport.
To be fair, Rossi the only GP rider anyone would have ever had a chance of hearing of if not following the sport.
Marquez was great. Dovizio was the one of the very few riders to beat him multiple time at the height of his powers. I don’t know if that makes him “great”, but everyone who raced in his generation will respect and remember him for the rest of their lives.
If finishing 2nd to a reckless MM at the top of his game 3 consecutive years makes one merely ‘good’…then I can’t imagine what it must take to qualify as ‘great’.
He’s never really been considered a championship-caliber rider despite his record. Yes he sometimes took the fight to MM but never got all the way.
Contrast with Pedrosa who many DID consider championship-caliber – hindered by size and injury….
I guess you don’t consider Stirling Moss having been a championship caliber driver either.
He finished 2nd in the championship 3 years in a row and defeated an in-prime Marquez head to head several times. I don’t think anyone regarded him as anything less than a championship caliber rider.
only guy other than val-ay/hor-hay that had anything for marquez.
Jorge lorenzo