Yamaha has confirmed that Andrea Dovizioso will return to MotoGP in a new role. He will serve as both a test rider and a rider performance advisor for Yamaha until the end of 2027. The announcement was made ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

Dovizioso, a former Ducati factory rider, retired from MotoGP in 2022. However, he has remained involved in the sport and tested Yamaha bikes earlier this year during pre-season testing in Sepang. Known for his smart and strategic racing style, he earned the nickname “Professor Dovi” from Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi.

Yamaha's Motorsport Managing Director, Paolo Pavesio, praised Dovizioso’s return in the official press release: “Dovi is a MotoGP legend with great riding ability and deep technical understanding,” Pavesio said. “He can help our engineers a lot. That’s why we chose him not just as a test rider, but also as someone who can support our MotoGP riders and staff.”

In his new position, Dovizioso will work closely with all four Yamaha MotoGP riders, helping to share information between them and the engineering team. His involvement is expected to improve the performance of the Yamaha bike and strengthen the whole racing program.

Dovizioso also expressed his excitement about his new responsibilities in official statement:
“I feel very comfortable with the plan we created together with Yamaha,” he said. “I’ll be helping in two ways: testing the bike and advising the riders. I want to help everyone work together better and use my experience to support the team.”

He added that improving the bike will take time and attention to detail, but the team has a clear goal and strong commitment to success.

Yamaha did not mention Cal Crutchlow in the announcement, although he remains under contract as a test rider until the end of 2026.