Britain’s Cal Crutchlow will return to MotoGP action in 2022 as Andrea Dovizioso has quit.

The Italian last race with the WithU Yamaha RNF team will be his home Misano race and then Crutchlow will finish the season.

Dovizioso re-joined the premier class at the 2021 San Marino GP under the former Petronas Sepang Racing Team, he then decided to continue as a full time rider with the revamped WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team for the 2022 season, riding a factory-spec YZR-M1.

Despite facing difficulties in adapting to the riding style of the Yamaha, Dovizioso managed to end the first half of the season scoring 10 points for the team. After much consideration, he recently decided to end his career at his home race exactly one year after returning to the paddock, leaving behind a list of excellent achievements.

“In 2012, the experience with the Iwata manufacturer in MotoGP had been very positive for me and since then I have always thought that, sooner or later, I would have liked to have an official contract with Yamaha. This possibility presented itself, actually in a somewhat daring way, during 2021. I decided to give it a try because I strongly believed in this project and in the possibility of doing well,” said Dovizioso.

“Unfortunately, in recent years the MotoGP has changed profoundly. The situation is very different since then: I have never felt comfortable with the bike, and I have not been able to make the most of its potential despite the precious and continuous help from the team and the whole of Yamaha.

“The results were negative, but beyond that, I still consider it a very important life experience. When there are so many difficulties, you need to have the ability to manage the situation and your emotions well. We did not reach the desired objectives, but the consultations with the Yamaha technicians and with those of my team have always been positive and constructive, both for them and for me.

“The relationship remained loyal and professionally interesting even in the most critical moments: it was not so obvious that that would happen.”

“For all this and for their support, I thank Yamaha, my team and WithU, and the other sponsors involved in the project. It didn’t go as we hoped, but it was right to try. My adventure will end in Misano, but the relationship with all the people involved in this challenge will remain intact forever. Thank you all.”