Dovizioso to switch to Repsol Honda for 2009

Friday, 26 September 2008

HRC have announced Andrea Dovizioso as their second factory team rider for next season.

Andrea Dovizioso has been unveiled as a Repsol Honda rider for the coming season in a special press conference at Motegi, cementing his move from the satellite JiR Team Scot outfit. The MotoGP rookie has impressed with his results onboard the satellite RC212V in 2008, and HRC have rewarded this and his long association with the company in the lower cylinder classes by giving the Italian a factory ride for his sophomore campaign.

`I´m really happy, because one of my dreams is coming true. I worked for seven years with Honda because I wanted to be here,´ said Dovizioso after the announcement.

`I want to get to work as soon as possible with the new bike and team, because right now the work in a satellite team is very limited –I can´t improve anything.´

The 22 year-old will replace outgoing Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden, who leaves the team for Ducati at the end of the year, and will accompany former 250cc rival Dani Pedrosa in the factory team garage. Both will be developing the bike for HRC, a first for Dovizioso.

`It will be different; I never developed any bike before. However, with my results this year I think that just having a better bike will help me to fight for the podium.´

The decision to promote Dovizioso was an easy one to make for HRC President Masumi Hamane, who paid tribute to the Italian star´s performances for the Japanese company over the years.

`His talent is unquestioned and we admire his attitude towards racing. His dedication to the task at hand has impressed everyone at HRC. Andrea came into the MotoGP championship this year with an open mind and his debut season has shown all of us that he possesses the character and qualities so necessary to succeed,´ declared Hamane.

`The MotoGP class is the most difficult of all classes for a rider but Andrea´s skill and determination to learn has been rewarded. His current fifth place in the championship speaks for itself. HRC will provide Andrea with the best possible technical support to help him reach his full potential and we look forward to enjoying a happy and successful relationship.´