Dovizioso: Danilo has more potential than people think

Andrea Dovizioso has conceded a more harmonious spirit inside the Ducati garage will not be enough to fight for the MotoGP world title, but is sure new team-mate Danilo Petrucci’s arrival to the official team has contributed to a “better feeling.”

The two-time premier class runner up has repeatedly expressed a belief that a number of small factors contribute to success over an exhaustive 19-race slog. Ducati has taken note, with the team’s glitzy presentation in Switzerland a chance for the Bologna manufacturer to underline its new rider dynamic.

Dovizioso will be the clear team leader in 2019, with General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna explaining Petrucci will assist with “synergy in development of the bike, and of bike set-up during a race weekend.”

And Dovizioso appears to have welcomed his new team-mate into the fold with open arms. Keen to avoid the open bickering that characterised his relationship with Jorge Lorenzo throughout 2018, the 32-year old Italian has offered the services of his sports psychologist, Amedeo Maffei, to Petrucci.

The twelve-time MotoGP race winner believes a united garage can be beneficial for both him and Petrucci in the year ahead.

“It's not about pressure, it's about having a better feeling in everything you have to do,” said Dovizioso. “When you have a good relationship, it's easier to do everything. But that is not the point to really fight for the championship, but when you are at the maximum level, everything is important.

“I'm happy in the situation we are in now. I think Danilo is completely open to try to work together. I don't know what we can really make better, because until you are there, you can never know.

“But the feeling is good, I think Danilo has more potential than everybody thinks. But to show the real potential is difficult. So you have to work in a lot of details and learn how to improve.

Petrucci explained how he has moved to Forli, Dovizioso’s hometown, so the pair can train together away from the track. The younger of the two also said, “staying with him at home is important for me because I can pick some secrets around and it's useful for me at this moment.”

On Petrucci’s move, Dovizioso added, “With Danilo, I did just one training, so we didn't train together during the winter. We created a different situation. I think he will live close to my city of Forli.

“We will train a lot together on the bike, all the sports we can do apart from the real training in the gym. He is able to work on some other stuff like me, and I think that can help him a lot in his situation now.

“Because he is so fast, already in the last two years he showed a lot of speed, but he had to learn in some other parts, and I think we can make some really good work together, but we'll see.”