Andrea Dovizioso, Italian motorcycle racer
Andrea Dovizioso (born 23 March 1986) is an Italian professional motorcycle racer who is the 2004 125 cc World Champion. He is best known for his time with the Ducati Team in the MotoGP class, finishing championship runner-up to Marc Marquez for three consecutive seasons in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Dovizioso is one of the most successful modern MotoGP riders with 15 MotoGP victories and 62 podiums. He races for WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team for the 2022 season.
Dovizioso first came to prominence winning the 125 cc World Championship in 2004. He then finished third in the 250 cc World Championship in 2005 and was twice a runner-up to Jorge Lorenzo in 2006 and 2007. He made his debut in MotoGP in 2008 and immediately finished 5th in the standings as the top satellite rider earning a move to Factory Honda team in 2009. In his three seasons with Repsol Honda he scored 15 podiums including a maiden MotoGP win at Donington Park and had a highest championship position of 3rd in 2011. Doviziozo moved to Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in 2012 and finished in 4th position getting six podiums which earned him a move to Factory Ducati team in 2013. In 2016 Doviziozo recorded his first win in seven years at Malaysia. In 2017 he found the extra pace needed to challenge for the title with six wins throughout the season but Marc Marquez who also had six wins clinched the title in the final round in Valencia. The subsequent 2018 and 2019 seasons proved less successful, even though he managed to win six combined races and finished runner-up yet again to Marquez. Dovizioso left Ducati after the 2020 season due to breakdown in relations with the team.
Dovizioso finished within the top five in 10 of his first 13 MotoGP seasons and is considered one of the best MotoGP riders to not win the MotoGP World Championship. He is the only rider in history to win a MotoGP race in three different decades – 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. He is nicknamed 'the Professor' due to his calculated riding approach.