Dovi completes HRC move
Added on Friday, September 26th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Dovizioso has impressed with seven top-five finishes this season.
JiR Scott Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso was officially announced today as Dani Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda teammate for 2009.
The JiR Scott Honda satellite team rider has impressed in his rookie year in MotoGP after graduating from the 250 class and will replace former world champion Nicky Hayden, who will ride for Ducati next season, at the HRC factory backed team.
The 22-year-old currently lies 29 points behind fellow 250cc graduate Jorge Lorenzo in the ‘rookie of the year’ race with four races remaining but the Italian already has his sights set on 2009 and his future with the factory team.
“I have raced Honda machines in grands prix for seven years because I have always wanted to be in the official HRC team,” said Dovizioso. “Now I have the opportunity to join Repsol Honda, so this is a dream come true for me, I am very happy.
“This year I have ridden my rookie season for the JiR Scot satellite Honda team. So far it has been a good year, I am fifth in the championship, but most importantly I have already gained a lot of experience on a MotoGP bike. I think that riding one season with a satellite team before joining the HRC team is the best way forward. Of course, I am still learning about MotoGP and I believe that you must never stop learning.
“When I changed from 250, I quickly got a good feeling for MotoGP - riding the four-stroke and working with the electronics - but getting 100 per cent out of these machines is something very different. You must work very hard to take machine set-up and development in a direction which allows you to win races and championships. That is why you need to be on a factory team.
“In 125s and 250s, there isn’t so much machine development, but in MotoGP there is always a lot of development. On a MotoGP bike you can change everything, so it’s a really tough job because you are always thinking very hard about what you need to go faster. It isn’t just your riding style and your racing lines, you have to think so much about all aspects of the machine, especially the electronics, which has been a new world for me this year.
“I am very much looking forward to starting work with HRC and the Repsol Honda Team. In the meantime, I will do my best to score some good results in the final races of 2008 to thank and reward my team who have helped me achieve so much over the years.”
HRC president Masumi Hamane was equally delighted with the deal, having made no secret of his admiration for the rider in the past.
“I am very pleased to announce that Andrea Dovizioso will join the Repsol Honda factory team for the 2009 MotoGP season, racing alongside Dani Pedrosa,” said Hamane. “Andrea has raced Honda machines throughout his career and with great success in all categories of grand prix racing. He has a 125cc world title to his credit and several very successful seasons in the 250cc class. We believe Andrea is now ready to accept the challenge that awaits him in 2009. His talent is unquestioned and we admire his attitude towards racing. His dedication to the task at hand has impressed everyone at HRC.
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