The Collector

Just 20 years young, but with the patience of an old man: Andrea Dovizioso is among the most diligent point collectors in motorcycle racing. That quality has already netted the Italian over 20 podium places and one World Championship title. And the role of the favorite in the current 250cc World Championship.

The starting number of 34, with which Andrea “Dovi” Dovizioso has been riding races since early childhood, is legendary in motorcycle racing: It was the number of Kevin Schwantz (USA), whose aggressive riding style and do-or-die mentality made him one of the most popular riders in racing history and an idol to many racers even to this day.

Like Andrea Dovizioso, for example. In honor of Schwantz, the Italian rides his races as number 34. But while Schwantz may be an idol, he’s not necessarily a role model. Because while Schwantz rode either onto the winner’s podium or into the gravel in most of his races, you’ll hardly find a more refined rider than Dovizioso when it comes to dosing throttle and risk. In the last two seasons, the Italian crossed the finishing line in all but two races. Such consistency has its rewards: in 2004 Dovizioso became World Champion in the 125cc class, with five grand prix victories and five further podium places. “The feeling was indescribable. I could hardly believe it”, says Andrea Dovizioso, but he’s quick to add: “When I start in a race, I always intend to be the best.” It’s a philosophy that worked for him the year thereafter, as well - this time in the form of an award: Dovi was voted Rookie of the Year.

Formula for success: better than the year before

What Schwantz and Dovizioso have in common is the fact that they got to know the tool of their future trade early on - both of them started riding motorcycles at the age of three. Encouraged by his father, who rode motocross, Dovizioso started in off-road sports, but he switched to minibikes at age six. Like so many top Italian riders, he earned his first laurels here - he was Italian champion in this class at ages eleven and twelve (even earlier than Valentino Rossi, who won “his” title at age 13). At age 14, Dovi led the under-18 ranking of the Italian Aprilia Challenge, and at 15 he was European Champion in the 125cc class. His cool head, his racing intelligence and his reliability were already evident in this initial international season: Dovi may have won only three out of eight races, but he finished all of them.

The consistency with which he rode his races also buoyed his career: in 2002 - by then with Honda - he finished his first complete season in the 125cc World Championship and was ranked 16th overall. In 2003 he came in fifth, and in 2004 he finally became World Champion. It was with all this under his belt that he switched to the 250cc class last season, where he finished the season as third in the World Championships, with four podium places.

And his collecting of podium places continues into 2006, as well: In the seven races to date, Andrea has finished on the podium seven times - most recently in Catalonia, where - as long-standing championship leader - he celebrated his first victory in the 250cc class.