Having separated from Ducati in August, with no concrete plan B and a 2021 grid that is almost complete, Andrea Dovizioso has once again wrongfooted us. The Italian had received test ride offers from Honda, KTM and Yamaha but, after talking fairly seriously with the latter, he has decided to turn them all down and make no commitments for 2021, as he awaits the ‘right’ project.

The unknown

There is nevertheless a risk that 2022 will have nothing to offer him. If we look at the various team contracts, excluding Ducati of course, the only place that might be freed up ahead of the 2022 season is that of Valentino Rossi, the sole Yamaha rider to have a one-year contract for 2021.

Aside from that, and in the absence of any unforeseen events or unexpectedly dissolved contracts, it all looks fairly static, with almost all riders having opted for two-year deals.

Aprilia

The big question mark regards the Noale manufacturer, which still has to complete its 2021 line-up, having confirmed only Aleix Espargaro for the next two years. With Cal Crutchlow so close to signing as Yamaha test rider, Aprilia must now get organised and is seeking both a test rider and a rider. A marriage with Dovizioso could probably only happen if there were a strengthening of the structure, to accelerate development of the fledgling RS-GP. Until then, there’s really no point hypothesising.

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