Dovizioso: My feeling improved, I’m taking it day-by-day

Three-time MotoGP runner-up Andrea Dovizioso remains unsure as to when he will be fully ‘ready’ for the 2022 season
Andrea Dovizioso, Indonesia MotoGP test, 12 February 2022
Andrea Dovizioso, Indonesia MotoGP test, 12 February 2022
© Gold and Goose

Andrea Dovizioso remains unsure as to when he will fully adapt to the 2022 M1 Yamaha after finishing day two of Mandalika MotoGP testing 19th. 

Although the Indonesian test has so far been a step in the right direction compared to that of Sepang, the former Ducati rider is yet to find the best from his M1 machine. 

With race wins and a championship challenge being the primary goal for Dovizioso in 2022, the Italian can therefore ill-afford to start the season slowly. 

Asked when he expects to be ready for the season, or in other words gel with his current RNF Yamaha, Dovizioso said: "When I will be ready… next question [laughs]. I would like to know the answer. The important thing is to arrive ready. 

"I’m taking it day-by-day because today I’m pretty happy as we did a step with the bike and my feeling improved. I was more consistent and a bit faster on the pace. 

"I had a good feeling when I did the lap time. I did the lap not really at the end and I think the track improved a little bit. In any case everybody is so fast, it’s so tight and it’s very difficult to be on top."

Dovizioso, who suffered a crash early on in the day, also alluded to wanting a better feeling during the final day, which will be crucial as it’s the final day of pre-season testing.

The 35 year-old added: "When we started again after the crash in the morning we made improvements and this is something very important. 

"We worked a little bit on the bike and it’s nice to feel the improvement. Let’s see tomorrow if we can continue to get a better feeling." 

As has been the case throughout testing thus far, reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo was the quickest Yamaha rider - nearly three tenths between him and team-mate Franco Morbidelli. 

Quartararo also had the best race pace over a 15 lap simulation, which Doviozoso was asked about. However, given tyre life and tyres themselves potentially being different across teams/riders, the former 125cc world champion said it’s difficult to compare who’s faster or not in testing. 

Dovizioso added: "Yes his pace was really good, but the quantity of tyres is not that much and everybody… depends what they want to try. 

"You have to take a decision on the right tyre that you want to use for the lap time to compare the material or simulation and everybody does a different thing. 

"You can’t really compare them exactly with the same temperature, with the same tyres or the same laps. The test is not that clear but I saw him today and he was very consistent and fast. 

"But also I was better in the afternoon so I’m feeling a bit better in both areas - speed wise and especially in the afternoon with the pace."

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