The two days of testing ended today with Andrea Dovizioso and the Aprilia RS-GP as protagonists at Misano circuit.
Andrea was finally able to test the RS-GP in ideal conditions after the last test in Mugello that was hit by the rain.
78 laps yesterday and 48 today testify to Andrea’s great work on the track supported by the Aprilia Racing test team.

Dovizioso lapped on decidedly fast times, improving significantly between the two days even if, as always in these cases, the chronometer is not the most important reference.

Aerodynamics, electronics and general balance of the bike, with different chassis solutions tested over the two days, were the areas explored also in view of the development of the RS-GP both for the second half of the season and for the definition of the bike for the next championship. .

Andrea Dovizioso #04
“It was a very interesting test. Trying on a different third circuit was very important to better understand the bike and understand the points to develop. We have tried and changed many things to allow us to better understand many details that in fact we have caught more precisely how to improve and where we lose with certain changes. With the next scheduled tests we will be able to make further comparisons and better compare our ideas “.

After the first date in Jerez, spent getting acquainted, and the one in Mugello, hindered by weather conditions, Andrea Dovizioso and Aprilia RS-GP will continue dating.
This means that the collaboration between the Italian champion and Aprilia Racing is now more structured, with a series of tests expected throughout the 2021 season.
The next date is schedule for 23 and 24 June in Misano, where Dovizioso will be on the track along with the Aprilia Racing test team, which already hosted him for the first two outings.

Andrea Dovizioso #04
“Since I wasn’t able to test at Mugello in dry conditions, I’m pleased that Aprilia Racing asked me to continue the work we started in Jerez and to be able to provide my contribution to developing the bike. I think this will be beneficial for both of us – for me, to continue training on a MotoGP bike in anticipation of a possible return in 2022, and for Aprilia to receive what they feel to be interesting information. For this reason, we decided to do more tests.”

SECOND APPOINTMENT AT MUGELLO FOR ANDREA DOVIZIOSO AND APRILIA RACING

The long-awaited second appointment between Andrea Dovizioso and the Aprilia RS-GP, scheduled at Mugello, was unable to enjoy the favorable weather conditions.
The two days on the Tuscan track have always been characterised by rain, at times so light as to not be able to completely wet the track, at times so strong as to determine “red flag” conditions if it were a race weekend.

Obviously the planned program could not be completed even if Andrea tried the changes to the ergonomics of the RS-GP agreed after the first test in April. Despite the rain, the laps on the track and the work in the garage were an important stage in the growth of Andrea’s confidence with the bike and with the team.
Precisely to resume the work started a month ago in Jerez in better conditions, Aprilia Racing and Andrea Dovizioso are considering the possibility of a new test to be held in June.

Andrea Dovizioso #04
“I was very pleased to be back on track with Aprilia, especially here at Mugello. It is a special circuit, the emotion I feel to ride here is unique. We weren’t lucky with the weather, but we still tried to take advantage of these two days of testing. The grip was certainly not ideal for pushing, so we concentrated on understanding and improving the behavior of the RS-GP in these conditions. At the end of the previous test I did not express definitive judgments because it was a simple grip contact, and I find it wrong to do so now after two days of rain. I have some ideas, of course, but I think the ideal would be to find another opportunity to learn more about the Aprilia. I am very pleased with the interest generated by my return on a MotoGP bike but, as already said, I don’t have any long-term plans. I’m having fun, I’m happy and I’ll evaluate my choices one step at a time. “

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO CONCLUDED THREE DAYS OF WORK ON THE RS-GP IN JEREZ

NEW TEST AT MUGELLO NEXT 11TH AND 12TH MAY

From 12 to 14 April Andrea Dovizioso went back to the track, after four months of absence from the circuits, and they were days of intense work, largely occupied with the necessary adaptation between bike and rider.
Over the three days Andrea has progressively and positively increased his knowledge of a bike that is obviously completely new for him and was able to start providing many data to the technicians.
With the rigor and analyticity that are his own Andrea has touched all aspects of the RS-GP: engine, electronics, chassis, aerodynamics, providing valuable information and addressing changes to the basic package that have constantly improved his performance and his confidence with the bike.

Chronometric performance was never sought, both because the many adaptations did not allow it and because this was not one of the goals of the test.

Aprilia Racing and Andrea Dovizioso will deepen what they achieved in Jerez with a new test on 11 and 12 May at Mugello, therefore on a track with different characteristics, where Andrea will be able to ride an advanced bike according to what emerged on the Andalusian track.

Andrea Dovizioso:
“It was a great emotion to get back on a MotoGP bike and for this I want to thank Aprilia Racing. It was an interesting three days, largely dedicated to finding the best position on the bike. Together we decided to do another test at Mugello in about a month and in the meantime work on some aspects of the bike ”.

Aprilia Racing and Andrea Dovizioso will be together on the track in Jerez from 12 through 14 April.

Andrea will conduct a test on the 2021 RS-GP that will race in the World MotoGP Championship and which, ridden in its début tests by Aleix Espargaró and Lorenzo Savadori, provided good sensations straight away.

MASSIMO RIVOLA – AD APRILIA RACING
“It was a pleasure to invite Andrea. The days in Jerez will simply be a chance to get to know one another better, also on the track. It will not be a ‘trial matrimony’ but an opportunity to turn some laps together without any binding commitment for the future. We are well aware of all Andrea’s qualities and his contribution will be important, even for just one test.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
“I was pleased by Aprilia’s interest and when we spoke about the possibility of doing this test, I gladly accepted the invitation to be able to ride a MotoGP bike again and to stay in form, giving the engineers my feedback. I wish to thank Aprilia Racing for this opportunity.”

Not just MotoGP. The all-round passion for Motorsports, combined with a great love for snow, give back an unprecedented Andrea Dovizioso, an all-round athlete who can’t wait to devote himself to the disciplines that most passionate him when he’s not on the track. In particular motocross, rallycross and snowboard.

Here you will find an interview with Dovi during a day of Rallycross in Maggiora.

Andrea Dovizioso closes his last race on the Desmosedici GP bike in sixth place, recovering from twelfth on the grid

Today was Andrea Dovizioso’s emotional last race aboard the red machine from Borgo Panigale after eight seasons, which saw him finishing second in the Championship for three years in a row (2017-2018-2019), and taking a total of 14 wins, 40 podiums and six pole positions with the factory team. At Portimão, a track introduced on the MotoGP calendar this year, Andrea was the protagonist of a good performance: starting from twelfth on the grid, the rider from Forlì found immediately a good pace that allowed him to rejoin the battle for fifth towards the end of the race. Dovizioso crossed the finish line in sixth place, scoring important points for the Standings which see him closing the 2020 season in fourth place, just 4 points behind Rins in third place.

Andrea Dovizioso (#04 Ducati Team) – 6th; 4th in the Championship
“It certainly wasn’t an easy race today starting from twelfth on the grid, but I’m happy because we managed to make a good comeback and finish ahead of some of our direct rivals in the Championship, reaching fourth place in the standings, which was our main goal. It was my last race with Ducati: in the last four years we have been able to do something extraordinary, and I never thought I would be so excited to see the joy that our results have been able to produce in our fans! It’s the magic of our sport, and I’m happy to have experienced it! After these eight seasons, there have been wonderful relationships within my team, which I will surely miss very much!”

Andrea Dovizioso, fourth at the end of FP3, set the twelfth fastest time in Q2 and will start from the fourth row of the grid in the last Grand Prix of the 2020 MotoGP season

Andrea Dovizioso will start from the fourth row of the grid in the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix which, for the first time, will be held tomorrow at the spectacular Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão. The rider from Romagna, who gained access directly to Q2 by finishing fourth in this morning’s FP3, was unable to go beyond the twelfth fastest time in qualifying, stopping the clock at 1:39.587, only 695 thousandths of a second off Oliveira’s pole position.

Andrea Dovizioso (#04 Ducati Team) – 1:39.587 (12th)
“I am a little disappointed with the result achieved today in qualifying: compared to yesterday we had managed to take several steps forward. It won’t be an easy race starting so far back, as here, in Portimão, there are not many overtaking spots. In any case, our pace for the race is good, and our direct rivals in the championship are not far off. Tomorrow it will be crucial to get a good start off the grid”.