[sportrider - latest stories] - Andrea Dovisioso signs with Ducati for 2013-14

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Andrea Dovisioso signs with Ducati for 2013-14

Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider to take Rossi’s place at Ducati next to Hayden with two year contractAs was expected by much of the media after Valentino Rossi decided to leave Ducati at the end of this season, current Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Andrea Dovisioso signed a contract with Ducati to take the place of the departing Rossi for next year. Dovisioso signed a two-year contract, which contrasts with future teammate Nicky Hayden who was only given a one-year extension on his contract.

After being left out when Repsol Honda cut its factory team to two riders last year, Dovisioso has been on a tear with the satellite Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team, garnering four podium finishes in the last five races (the highest ever for the team in a single season already). He has been openly pining for the Yamaha Factory Racing seat currently occupied by Ben Spies, but when Rossi signed to return to Yamaha, the San Marino native was once again left out, leaving him with no other factory alternative than the Ducati seat. It’s been reported that he demanded assurances from new Ducati owners Audi that development work would be moving at a much more rapid pace than currently with the Ducati GP12 before he put his name on the dotted line.

This puts current Monster Tech 3 Yamaha teammate Cal Crutchlow in a bit of a spot, as it was reported he was offered the seat at Ducati earlier this season, but he held off in the hopes that other opportunities might arise. The hard-riding Brit was tabbed earlier this year as a candidate for a factory ride when he was finishing ahead of Dovisioso; but that is now looking more like he will remain with the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha satellite team…provided team owner Herve Poncharal doesn’t have other plans.



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