No Honda call, but Dovizioso would be ready for Qatar MotoGP test
Andrea Dovizioso would be ready and available for pre-season testing and a return to the grid during the 2021 MotoGP seas🌱on, should Honda call in search of a replacem﷽ent for injured world champion Marc Marquez.
The Italian's manager Simone Battistella also say♑s they would respond positively to the offer of an initial 'evaluation' by HRC during the upcoming Qatar tests.

Andrea Dovizioso would b☂e ready and available for pre-season testing and a return to the grid during the 2021 MotoGP season, should Honda call in search of a repla🦄cement for injured world champion Marc Marquez.
The Italian's manager Simone Battistella also says they would respond positively to the offer of an initial 'eva▨luation' by HRC during the upcoming Qatar tests.
"To get to know each other and understand how Andrea is doing with that bike, I would say yes," Battistella told . "We are talking about a winning bike and a rider who has always been very strong in Qatar; the combꦕination would intrigue 🐻fans…"
But for now, no contact from Honda has been made and test rider Stefan Bradl, who replaced Marquez last season, still seems to be 'Plan A' if▨ the Spaniard cannot ride.
"Not yet, but if [the call from Honda comes] Andrea is really ready," Battistella said. "He is training for motocross at an amateur level but he is doing i✤t with such intensity as if he were in fu🍨ll pre-season MotoGP. We will work this year to fully return to 2022."
Marquez has undergone threꦑe operations since breaking his right arm in last July's Jerez season-opener.
A plate fitted to hold the initia✤l fracture broke shortly afterwards due to the stress of 🌳an attempted return, while a third operation was then needed when the bone failed to heal due to infection.
The eight-time world champion continues to undergo antibiotic treatment and Battistella believes February will be c🦩rucial in terms of whether the #93 takes part in testing a🔯nd/or the start of the season, on March 28..
"As for Honda, of course both Andrea and I are very sorry about wꦐhat is happening to Marc, it is clear that they are evaluating exactly when their rider can return. In my opinion, rightly, they are afraid of doing mistakes in such a delicate situation. Next month will be crucial for their decisions.
"For our part, we have re♐jected all the proposalsꦑ from test riders to be free to do something else, but also ready to return to the starting grid. "
While Honda remains silent on Marquez's possible return, it surely won’t even be considered unt♑il the current infection has been 🐈eradicated and fracture fully sealed.
Only then is Marquez likely to be seen training on a motorcycle again, the first tangible sign he is neari✤ng a MotoGP comeback.
"Honestly, I don't expect Honda to let Dovi start the world championship and then stop him midway through or towards the end of the season. The hypothesis of starting alongside Pol Espargaro and then adding a third bike when Marquez returns is also n♏ot feasible... so I don't think there are so many variables that we can explore," Battistella added, perhaps suggesting that if Dovizioso is hired it would be for th𓆉e entire 2021 season.
🐬"Let's wait while Andrea, very calmly, works with the s🧜eriousness and commitment that distinguishes him."
But as things currently stand Dovizioso - a Qatar podium finisher for Ducati from 2015-2019 and title runner-up to Marquez from 2017-2019 and - faces watching the season-opener from the 🔴sidelines.
"The thought of following the double races in Qatar from the sofa at home might not be easy... Assuming Dovi is not on a motocross track at that time," said Battist💟ella.
Provisional 2021 MotoGP Calendar – January Update | |||
Round | Date | Race | Circuit |
1 | 28 March | Qatar (Evening race) | Losail |
2 | 4 April | Doha (Evening race) | Losail |
3 | 18 April | Portugal | Portimao |
4 | 2 May | Spain | Jerez |
5 | 16 May | France | Le Mans |
6 | 30 May | Italy | Mugello |
7 | 6 June | Catalunya | Barcelona |
8 | 20 June | Germany | Sachsenring |
9 | 27 June | Netherlands | Assen |
10 | 11 July | Finland (Subject to homologation) | KymiRing |
11 | 15 August | Austria | Red Bull Ring |
12 | 29 August | Great Britain | Silverstone |
13 | 12 September | Aragon | Aragon |
14 | 19 September | San Marino e Della Riviera di Rimini | Misano |
15 | 3 October | Japan | Motegi |
16 | 10 October | Thailand | Buriram |
17 | 24 October | Australia | Phillip Island |
18 | 31 October | Malaysia | Sepang |
19 | 14 November | Comunitat Valenciana | Ricardo Tormo |
Postponed Grands Prix: | |||
Argentina | Termas | ||
Americas | COTA | ||
Reserve Grand Prix Venues: | |||
Indonesia (Subject to homologation) | Mandalika | ||
2021 Pre-season Testing: | |||
5 March | Qatar Shakedown Test | Losail | |
6-7 March | Qatar Official Test | Losail | |
10-12 March | Qatar Official Test | Losail |

Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valenti𒉰no Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.