P&H Motorcycles News & Events

Andrea Dovizioso concerned over 2012 satellite bike 'performance drop'

Andrea Dovizioso has accepted that if he ends up on a satellite bike next season, there is "no way" he will challenge for the championship.

Repsol Honda will cut the Italian and teammate Marco Simoncelli as part of efforts to slash 30 per cent from its 2012 budget.

The team will retain the services of Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, but Dovizioso told bikesportnews.com that he will struggle on a satellite bike without support from Honda.

"This is a strange situation where they already have their two factory riders, they are two of the fastest riders. I can still fight for second in the championship."

"There is no way to come back on a satellite bike."

Dovizioso has outperformed Pedrosa in this year's championship, standing in third place overall with a healthy 35-point lead over the Spaniard.

Stoner leads the championship title race, with 259 points, chased by Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo in second place, with 224 points to Dovizioso's 185.

Posted by Ray Gibbs