Andrea Dovizioso keen to debut new Yamaha

Andrea Dovizioso’s focus immediately turned to 2012 and his much anticipated Yamaha 1000cc debut after he secured third place in the MotoGP world championship in Valencia yesterday.

The Italian’s third place in tricky damp conditions ensured he took third overall in the rankings with closest rival Dani Pedrosa fading badly to fifth place in a rain-hit 30-lap race.

It was Dovizioso’s last appearance for Repsol Honda before he moves to partner Cal Crutchlow in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad.

He will make his Yamaha 1000cc debut at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit tomorrow (Tuesday) and he believes his smooth riding style will be more suited to the YZR-M1 after he ended his career long association with Honda to move to Herve Poncharal’s squad.

The former 125GP world champion told MCN: “I am soft and smooth and I don’t pick up the bike enough to use the potential of the Honda like Casey (Stoner) and Dani.

“I have to try and be faster in the middle of the corner and it looks like to be fast with Yamaha you have to brake harder and it looks like they have more stability than us (Honda) to keep a high speed on exit.

“It looks like this is a smooth engine. Sure it has less power but it is perhaps a little easier to control.”

For exclusive news from the first test of 2012, see the November 16 issue of MCN.