Andrea Dovizioso gets LCR Honda offer

Andrea Dovizioso can begin the process of working out where he will ride in the 2012 MotoGP world championship having received a formal offer from the LCR Honda squad in Japan last night.

The Italian rider now has to decide whether he will join Lucio Cecchinello’s squad or partner Cal Crutchlow in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad next season.

Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal made an offer to the former 125GP world champion during the last round at the Motorland Aragon in Spain, but he couldn’t make a decision until he received a proposal from LCR.

That came at the Twin Ring Motegi last night, and the deal includes full factory support for the current Repsol Honda rider, just like compatriot Marco Simoncelli’s new contract with the San Carlo Gresini squad.

Cecchinello told MCN in Japan today: “We made it clear here what LCR and Honda can offer Andrea. I sent our updated offer to Andrea yesterday and now it is up to him to think about this. Everything is in his hands now. From our side we are doing the maximum to sign Andrea.”

If Dovizioso declines the offer to remain with Honda and ride a factory-backed new 1000cc RC213V machine, Cecchinello has been in contact with current British Superbike championship leader John Hopkins and former LCR rider Randy de Puniet.