Andrea Dovizioso not worried by 1000cc test absence

Andrea Dovizioso has played down his absence from this week’s Honda 1000cc test in Jerez.

Factory Honda team-mate Casey Stoner rode the RC212V 800cc replacement in Spain on Tuesday and Wednesday but Dovizioso was overlooked, even though Dani Pedrosa was forced to withdraw from the session because of the broken right collarbone he suffered in Le Mans last weekend.

But the former world 125GP champion said: “Apart from the results of the first few races, they also have a contract and this is normal that they have the possibility to try the bike before me.

“Honda has eight days to test the 1000cc bike, so the important thing will be the tests later in the year when the bike is more developed. Everybody wants to try the bike but it is not so important now and it is not something really bad that I’m not riding it.”