MotoGP’s Andrea Dovizioso To Race For Audi In DTM

Audi and Ducati are both part of the VW Group, something that has made MotoGP rider’s Andrea Dovizioso decision to race for Audi in DTM in Misano, Italy on June 8 and June 9, that much easier.

While it is not unusual to see professional motorcycle riders try their hand at car racing, it is quite unusual to see an active rider make the jump. Dovizioso currently sits third in the MotoGP championship standings and finished runner-up in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

One of the key reasons why Audi and Dovizioso’s Ducati MotoGP team were happy to see him compete in DTM is that he hails from the Misano area of Italy and should help attract additional fans to the race weekend.

“I’m delighted that in Andrea Dovizioso we managed to get a real superstar to race as a guest in the DTM,” head of Audi motorsport Dieter Gass said. “MotoGP riders are true heroes in Italy. Andrea hails from the Misano area, won the Motorcycle Grand Prix there last year and is going to attract many additional fans. We’re already extremely excited to see how he’s going to fare in his DTM debut. That he’s taking time out for the DTM between two MotoGP races is fantastic and not to be taken for granted at all. I’d like to particularly thank Ducati’s CEO Claudio Domenicali and Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, who agreed to this guest entry. That’s a big thing for the DTM and for motorsport in general.”

Dovizioso claimed victory at the Misano round of last year’s MotoGP season and says he is very excited for the challenge of driving the Audi RS5 DTM.

“I love cars and I feel lucky to be able to race with the Audi RS 5 DTM. It’s tough to find the time to prepare for it during the MotoGP season but I am really looking forward to compete in such a high-level context as the DTM. The car is amazing, but it’s a different challenge compared with my Desmosedici GP and I need to get prepared, so I did many laps in the simulator before stepping into it for the first time.”