Few predicted that Andrea Dovizioso ღwould take the MotoGP title fight down to the final round in 2017.

But♑ the Italian's stunning season means he will be high on his 🧸rivals' radar from the very start of next season.

"I think it's only positive♋," the Ducati rider said of the increased expectation. "Because now we have the feeling that we can do it.

"Otherwise, not a lot will change next year, becaus🎃e therﷺe will not be many changes with teams, riders and rules.

"So I think we can start♏ next season very s📖imilar to the way we finished 2017.

"Just I think that the competitors will look at uಞs in a little bit of a different way than at the beginning of this season…"

Part of the reason for Dovizioso and Ducat🌠i slipping under the radar was down to relatively low-key performances in winter testing.

But the Italian feels having the calmness and discipline to look beyond a one-off lap time pays divꦚidends once the racing starts.

"Every weekend the gap from the rider in 1st and the rider in🌠 15th positiꦅon is very small," he said.

"That makes a difference also in the 𒁏way you test. Because in the tests you can see a lot of fast riders, but in the races it is always the same riders in the front, more or less.

"Because there is a way to make a test, whic𓃲h is without taking a lot of risks and trying to understand all the pieces you try.

"It's not easy because sometimes you see a lot of rider🦋s are fast in a test, so you can feel 'it’s not the best day for me'൲.

"But you have to stay calm and continue to work in your box, because the det🏅ails will make a difference in the race 🍌weekend."

The first official MotoGP test of 2018 takes place at Sepang from Ja✃nuary 28-30, when Dovizioꦡso and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo are expected to debut the GP18 Ducati.