Why Andrea Dovizioso is leaving MotoGP at the right time

On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso announced that he will be retiring from MotoGP after September’s San Marino GP. The timing of his departure raised eyebrows, but his reasoning remains sensible and what has happened this year should not diminish a hard-built legacy.

Andrea Dovizioso’s 2023 future has been a point of question since MotoGP went on its five-week summer break following the Dutch Grand Prix. Several times in the first half of the season, the veteran Italian indicated that next year’s grid wasn’t likely to feature him.

It’s for this reason that this writer organised to sit down with Dovizioso on Thursday afternoon at Silverstone. That interview was postponed at the eleventh hour, the reasoning becoming clear at midday on Thursday when Yamaha dropped a press release announcing Dovizioso’s retirement.

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary MotoGP reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers other motorcycle racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.