Andrea Dovizioso inducted as MotoGP Legend

This year’s Italian MotoGP round saw Andrea Dovizioso inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame, with a special ceremony held for the recently retired rider ahead of the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley at Mugello in June.

Born in 1986, Dovizioso made his grand prix debut - as a 15-year-old - in the 125cc class in 2001. The Italian would go on to win the 125cc World Championship in 2004 before spending three seasons in the 250cc category, finishing third, second and second in that championship.

Stepping up to MotoGP in 2008, Dovizioso rode Honda and Yamaha machinery over his 15 seasons in the premier class, but is best remembered for his time on the Ducati Desmosedici.

Across eight seasons with the factory Ducati team (2013 to 2020), Dovizioso won 14 races, with 40 other podium finishes, 6 poles and 9 fastest laps.

Often the closest competitor to Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez, Dovizioso finished second in the MotoGP World Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2019. After a 2020 season that saw him slip to fourth in the championship, Dovizioso announced his retirement, but with an intention to return “for the right project”. That proved to be a partial season on the YZR-M1 with Petronas Yamaha SRT, which extended to the 2022 season, during which Dovizioso retired for good at the Misano round.

Presenting Dovizioso with his Legends medallion at Mugello and inducting him into the Hall of Fame, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpleta described the 37-year-old as a great rider, but an even better person.

“It has been a big pleasure to be working with you all these years… Our relationship has always been fantastic. You’ve told us many things and your presence on the Safety Commission has been something important for us, and I also want to thank you for that… your presence has always been a great help. You’ve been able to give many ideas to us. The only thing I can say is that it’s a great honour for me to induct you into the Hall of Fame. Thank you, Andrea."

In response, Dovizioso said: “It’s a big pleasure to listen to what Carmelo said, I’m very proud. There are the results - everyone wants to win - but in the end, if you come back and hear something like that, you can be proud. I’m really happy about the relationship we had over this long period.”

Dovizioso joins other Italian legends in the MotoGP Hall of Fame like Giacomo Agostini, Max Biaggi, Valentino Rossi, Marco Lucchinelli, Carlo Ubbiali, Marco Simoncelli and Franco Uncini.

“I’m so happy to be back at Mugello, a special place for Italian riders, and to become a MotoGP Legend,” Dovizioso added. “It’s something I didn’t expect and I’m so happy to be alongside these names, it’s something crazy. And I’m so happy to see everyone here!"

Those present for Dovizioso’s induction into the MotoGP Hall of Fame included current Ducati MotoGP factory riders, Pecco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini, Ducati WorldSBK’s Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Aprilia Racing’s Lorenzo Savadori.

Other riders in the MotoGP Hall of Fame include Casey Stoner, Mike Hailwood, Nicky Hayden, Mick Doohan, Jorge Lorenzo, Eddie Lawson, Randy Mamola, Wayne Gardner, Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts (Sr and Jr), Kevin Schwantz, Alex Crivillé, Freddie Spencer, John Surtees, Barry Sheene and others.