Aprilia with Dovi

Italy’s new dream combination of MotoGP is testing in Jerez

Originally it was emphasized that this was only a non-binding test over three days. On April 12, 2021, the time had finally come and Dovi climbed onto a MotoGP bike that did not come from Borgo Panigale for the first time in many years. The man from Forlimpopoli, not far from the Misano track, jumped on a motorcycle from Noale for the first time ever as a three-time runner-up from 2017 to 2019 in Jerez. A look at the years 2010 to 2014 of the WorldSBK is enough to see in Aprilia compared to Ducati anything but a nobody. See also our richly illustrated history of the successes of a certain Max Biaggi and Sylvain Guintoli for this brand. And before someone rashly judges and states that this is the near-series World Cup and has nothing to do with MotoGP, we advise you to take a look at the intermediate status of the manufacturers’ World Cup of MotoGP. The current situation is shown below.

The new dream combination of Italy at the test in Jerez and its future
With basically just one rider in the person of Aleix Espargaró in terms of his competitiveness in MotoGP, Aprilia is in 4th intermediate place in the constructors’ championship. After 2 laps well ahead of Honda and KTM with 4 drivers each, that says a lot about their potential. You don’t need to be a mathematician to be able to work out how you would look today with the winner of 2018 and 2019 after Losail. That is why Andrea Dovizioso is exactly the right man at the right moment to achieve great things together with the company from Noale. There is actually only one logical consequence, namely that one of the best drivers in recent years will team up with the fourth-best factory at the start of the season in order to conquer the world together in 2021.

Dovi – the right man at the right time

Who else can advance Aprilia than the most successful driver in recent years after Marc Marquez? If he doesn’t, even if he doesn’t get a top salary, Dovi risks going out of business. Many teams like KTM with Remy Gardner already have their own in the pipeline to freshen up their MotoGP teams if riders like Lecuona and Petrux should receive the blue letter anytime soon. There are also enough Moto2 riders waiting so that no other team would look to an Andrea Dovizioso as the next solution. Therefore, it is also the ideal opportunity for the man with the upper body of an artistic gymnast to recommend himself again to the top teams with excellent performances. For Aprilia, he’s the right man at the right time anyway.

Chosen perfect time and place

Aprilia and Dovizioso could hardly have chosen a better time and place to test them together. The Circuito in Jerez is the track on which the season continues after the Portuguese Grand Prix. The Italian has even gained his first experience on the bike that is new to him on the right course. As the only remaining so-called concession team, they were allowed to do so, while KTM lost this status in the previous year due to their good results and is now promptly in danger of being relegated to the third class. Like the other teams, the oranges are only allowed to take test drivers on upcoming routes in the calendar. Aprilia is completely different in the event that they should strengthen themselves with Dovi. With two top riders like Aleix and the Italian they can now definitely take off. Now the only thing missing is the contract to seal the cooperation until the end of 2021. This should already exist as a draft and now only the mutual signature is missing.

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