Af♉ter brushing off a last-turn attack by Marc Marquez in Qatar, Andrea Dovizioso holds the early MotoGP World Championship lead heading i🐎nto this weekend's Argentina round.

But while Dovizioso has a long record of strong performances with Ducati in Qatar, finishing runner-up in the three years before his victory, Ter🔜mas de Rio Hondo might be a more accurate gauge of progress relative to lasꦫt season.

The 2017 event saw Dovizioso fail to finish after being taken down at mid-distance by Aleix Espargaro. Bu🍬t the Italian was only holding seventh at the time - despite the likes of both Repsol ꧂Hondas retiring ahead of him.

Dovizioso is confident the Desmosedici has 'improved a lot since then' - and it's certainly not an unfavourable c💜ircuit for Ducati, the team having been on the verge of a double podium until Andrea Iannone brought down Doviz♐ioso at the end of the 2016 race.

A year earlier, Dovi took what remains his only Argentina rostrum in the form of second place, in a race best remembered for the late clash between Valentin𝕴o Rossi and Marc Marquez.

"This circuit is rather unusual, in that the conditions change a lot between Friday, when the track surface is usually 🍸very dirty, and Sund𝔍ay, when the asphalt has improved considerably," Dovizioso said.

"Last year at Termas we struggled a lot, but the Desmosedici GP has improved a lot since then and after the win in Qatar we are very excited, so our aim now is t𒅌o get a good result also in Argentina!”

Meanwhile the Italian has played down suggestions this season will turn into another champion𓂃ship head-to-head with Marquez.

"I would like [to just fight Marquez] because it can be easier, but I think there is for🌸 sure also Valentino, Dani, maybe Zarco, maybe some other riders, to fight for the championship.

"I really believe that. I not saying it because 🧔I have🙈 to say it."