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Ducati braced for “difficult negotiation” to retain Dovizioso

Ducati is prepared for a “difficult negotiation” to retain Andrea Dovizioso for the 2019 MotoGP season, according to the team’s sporting director Paolo Ciabatti.

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team
Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team, Michelin engineer
Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team
Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team
Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team
Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati Team, Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team
Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team

Dovizioso enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Italian manufacturer last year, winning no fewer than six races and taking the championship battle with Marc Marquez down to the final race.

However, the 31-year-old – along with almost the entire premier-class grid – is out of contract at the end of 2018, and his strong recent form is expected to make him a key player in the silly season.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Ciabatti admitted that Dovizioso is likely to demand a salary similar to that of MotoGP’s biggest names to remain at the squad he has raced with since 2013.

He underlined Ducati’s preference is to retain both Dovizioso and three-time champion Jorge Lorenzo, who was lured away from long-time employer Yamaha at great expense but endured a winless 2017.

“Obviously we would like to keep both riders, but our budget is not infinite and we cannot spend it all in one direction while retaining a margin for development,” said Ciabatti.

“We are aware Dovizioso expects an offer in line with his latest results – obtained, it must be said, thanks to his great personal development and exceptional form, but also thanks to the sport and the competitiveness of his Ducati. Six races are not won by accident.

“We will start talking to Andrea soon, about both financial and technical matters. He expects a salary in line with that of the other top riders. It will be a difficult negotiation.

“We will start talking after the Sepang test at the end of the month.”

Last year, Dovizioso revealed he had been approached by Honda about a potential return to the team he raced for in 2009-11 in the event that the Japanese marque lost Dani Pedrosa to Yamaha.

However, Honda and Yamaha both denied that they were seeking to poach Dovizioso for 2019.

Additional reporting by Matteo Nugnes

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