The rumor broke late Friday afternoon when several websites reported that Andrea Dovizioso had signed with Yamaha Tech3 for the 2012 season after spending ten years with Honda.
This rumor has now been officially confirmed and Dovizioso will be fielded alongside Cal Crutchlow and will be riding a satellite Yamaha next year, when MotoGP reverts back to the 1000cc format.
The Italian hopes that he’ll then be considered for a Yamaha full factory ride in 2013, when both Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies’ contracts expire.
Andrea Dovizioso:“I’m happy to have reached this agreement with Tech 3 for next year and I want to thank Hervé Poncharal for the opportunity he is giving me.
I am excited to become part of Hervé’s squad and to be teamed with Cal.
I am sure this new challenge will be exciting, motivating and fun.
Now that 2012 is sorted I want to focus on finishing the season in the best possible way.
”
Herve Poncharal, Team Manager (Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team):“I am delighted that a rider of Andrea’s stature has decided to commit his future to Tech 3 and Yamaha.
He is without doubt one of the fastest riders in the world who has proven on a regular basis that he is capable of challenging for the podium in MotoGP.
I am thrilled that he trusts the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team to take his career to the next level and we can look forward to 2012 with high expectations.
I am convinced that with Andrea and Cal we have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid in 2012 and both of them will demonstrate the potential of Yamaha’s new 1000cc machine.
”Dovizioso is currently third in the standings with Repsol Honda team mate Dani Pedrosa just one point behind him and three races left in the season.