MotoGP News
Date: 1/October/2011
Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez both did a good job of dodging questions about their intentions for the 2012 MotoGP season, on Saturday at Motegi.
Dovizioso is yet to re-sign for Honda and is set to lose his place at the factory team as it cuts back to two riders for the start of the new 1000cc era.
Repsol Honda was obliged to run three bikes in order to accommodate the arrival of Casey Stoner, alongside Dani Pedrosa and Dovizioso.
Honda had considered moving Dovizioso to a satellite team for this year, but the Italian refused to settle for anything less than the factory team seat specified in his contract.
That stance may be returning to haunt Dovizioso, since Stoner and Pedrosa are already signed for 2012 - while Gresini's Marco Simoncelli recently had his factory contract extended.
That seemed a clear indication that Dovizioso has now dropped below rising-star Simoncelli in the Honda hierarchy.
Dovizioso, a Honda rider throughout his full time grand prix career, looks prepared to accept a switch to a satellite team, which would almost certainly be LCR, but is insisting on continued access to the latest Honda machinery.
However LCR needs to find the budget to afford such motorcycles, while Dovizioso would almost certainly face a pay cut even if, as rumoured, HRC offered to pay his wages.
Dovizioso's main alternative is a move to Tech 3, Yamaha's only satellite team, where he could start a new relationship which might one day result in a return to full factory status.
Offers from both Tech 3 and LCR are said to be on the table, but so far Dovizioso is giving little away about his intentions.
"I still haven't decided," he said, before quashing rumours that he must make a decision by the end of this weekend. "There is no time limit."
While Dovizioso faces demotion, reigning 125cc world champion Marc Marquez is now within six points of the Moto2 title lead after a sensational rookie season.
Should the 18-year-old Spaniard win the 600cc title, as now seems likely barring a sudden revival by Stefan Bradl, many are speculating that Marquez could join MotoGP next season.
Marquez has strong Repsol backing and Honda won’t risk losing him to another manufacturer should he want to move. So far, Marquez insists he isn’t looking beyond the end of this year.
"I don’t know. Just at the moment I want to concentrate on Moto2. Next year we will see. At the moment I think Moto2 is my place," he said.
As a rookie, Marquez would need to join a satellite team for his first MotoGP season, but can still have access to the latest equipment and factory support.
While Dovizioso and Marquez dodged questions about their future, world champion Jorge Lorenzo has revealed he has been involved in a form of 'shower dodging' this weekend in Japan.
Due to concerns about radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, around 110km away, the Yamaha rider confirmed that he has only been showering "with a bottle".
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