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While Lorenzo represents the new chapter for Ducati, Dovizioso is its recent history. Andrea is now entering his 5th year in red and, after winning in Malaysia one year ago, he now shares his team's great expectations. It will be no easy feat, also because he'll have to line up against a champion of the caliber of Lorenzo.
“I'm relaxed about his arrival - he confirms - we've known each other for a long time and the good thing is that we've always respected each other on track. We've started to talk about how we can improve the bike, but each of will follow his own path. We won't tell each other what it is, he'll be my main rival”.
But you'll have to work with him...
“We will each focus on our own work, each will behave in his own way, but that's normal. This won't impact on my work and our relationship is relaxed. It won't change our work method, even with Iannone last season, despite our relationship not being the best, from the work point of view we never had a problem”.
You're not put out by the difference in salary between the two of you?
“Probably that difference is not the same as the difference between us on track, but Jorge has won a great deal and it's normal for Ducati to make certain investments to have him. Anyway, I've never raced for the money but for the results, and I can achieve the result I want, my salary will increase too (he laughs)”.
You're not worried about having to face off against Lorenzo?
“On the contrary, I'm excited. I'm at the best point of my career and despite being 30, I can still learn, from him too. I'm pleased to be able to study him close-up. He'll bring added value to the team and I'm pleased to be able to fight against him with the same bike”.
Who's got the worst deal in terms of team-mate, you or Valentino?
“I expected Vinales to be immediately quick, he has what it takes to fight for the title but it will depend how he manages to manage the season from a mental standpoint. It's not easy to have Valentino on the other side of the garage. Jorge too is difficult to beat, because he is so determined. It will be a tough but exciting challenge”.
All the Ducati managers have said that the only goal is the title, do you agree?
“We definitely set out with the aim of fighting for the title and have what it takes to do so. As far as I'm concerned, the most important thing wasn't the win at Sepang but our performance in the three non-European races, on different tracks in different conditions”.
So you're ready?
“I'm aware of our limits, we don't start with a winning bike but a very competitive one. This means that we only need just a little more and if we start with high expectations we'll have more chance of meeting them. Last year, Marquez didn't have the best bike at the start of the year and he won”.
When will you have a clearer idea?
“We'll understand a lot at the Sepang tests. The important thing is to stay calm and understand every step, as we did last year”.
Your rivals don't consider you dangerous in the long-term…
“It's normal that they see it like that, because that's how it's been in the past. But we can change ”.
There won't be dramatic technical changes for 2017, but the wings are gone…
“At Valencia the difference was big, but it's mainly the safety that suffers. In the tests in Spain, as far as the straight you could see black lines on the asphalt - left by my front tyre when I touched the ground. This means we have a lot of work ahead of us with no load at the front. In terms of performance, I'm not worried though”.
Dall’Igna has said that we'll only see the final aerodynamics of the GP17 in Qatar…
“This year we'll only be able to make two evolutions to the fairing, so we'll need to introduce them only if they will lead to clear improvement. And with bikes that's not so easy”.
