This weekend will see the debut of PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team’s new rider Andrea Dovizioso for the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini – the home GP.
After nearly 10 months away, Dovizioso will make his return to the MotoGP championship this weekend, as he takes the place of Franco Morbidelli – who has moved to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – for the remaining five races of the season.
Although the primary focus for ‘Dovi’ this weekend will be to start getting up to speed with his Yamaha machinery, the Italian will be looking forward to making his racing return at his home circuit – where he won in 2018 and finished on the podium in 2017.
Dovizioso’s home GP will get underway at 9.55am local time on Friday with FP1, while Sunday’s 27-lap MotoGP race will bring the SanMarinoGP to a conclusion at 2pm local time.
Andrea Dovizioso #04
“The level this year is so high and everyone’s times are so tight, but I’m going into these final five rounds with no pressure. I think it will take a bit of time to get used to the bike and adapt my riding style to the Yamaha. You can’t change these things overnight, but I’m really happy that I have these five races to see what I can do. I have no goals in terms of results, for me the important things are to have a good feeling with the bike and to understand it. Of course, if I can be in the top-ten then that would be great, but we’ll see. Overall I’m just happy to be back in MotoGP, for it to be with PETRONAS Yamaha SRT and that my first GP will be a home race”.