Dovizioso: After Qatar, we are very excited

After brushing off a last-turn attack by Marc Marquez in Qatar, Andrea Dovizioso holds the early MotoGP World Championship lead heading into this weekend's Argentina round.

But while Dovizioso has a long record of strong performances with Ducati in Qatar, finishing runner-up in the three years before his victory, Termas de Rio Hondo might be a more accurate gauge of progress relative to last season.

The 2017 event saw Dovizioso fail to finish after being taken down at mid-distance by Aleix Espargaro. But the Italian was only holding seventh at the time - despite the likes of both Repsol Hondas retiring ahead of him.

Dovizioso is confident the Desmosedici has 'improved a lot since then' - and it's certainly not an unfavourable circuit for Ducati, the team having been on the verge of a double podium until Andrea Iannone brought down Dovizioso at the end of the 2016 race.

A year earlier, Dovi took what remains his only Argentina rostrum in the form of second place, in a race best remembered for the late clash between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez.

"This circuit is rather unusual, in that the conditions change a lot between Friday, when the track surface is usually very dirty, and Sunday, when the asphalt has improved considerably," Dovizioso said.

"Last year at Termas we struggled a lot, but the Desmosedici GP has improved a lot since then and after the win in Qatar we are very excited, so our aim now is to get a good result also in Argentina!”

Meanwhile the Italian has played down suggestions this season will turn into another championship head-to-head with Marquez.

"I would like [to just fight Marquez] because it can be easier, but I think there is for sure also Valentino, Dani, maybe Zarco, maybe some other riders, to fight for the championship.

"I really believe that. I not saying it because I have to say it."