Few predicted that Andrea Dovizioso🌠 would take the MotoGP title f🅺ight down to the final round in 2017.

But the Italian's stunning season means hꦗe w🃏ill be high on his rivals' radar from the very start of next season.

"I think it's only positive," the Ducati rider said o♏f the increased expectation. "Because now we have the feeling that we can do it.

"Otherwise, not a lot will change next year, because there will not be many chan⛄ges with teams, riders and rules.

"So I ⛄think we can start next season very similar to the way we finished 2017🗹.

"Just 💎I think that the competitors will look at us in a little bit of a different way than at the beginning of this season…"

Part of the reason for Dovizioso and Ducati slipping under the radar was down to relatively low-key performances i💫n winter testing.

But the Italian feels having the calmness and discipline to look beyond a one-off lap time pays d꧑ividends once th🎶e racing starts.

"Every weekend the gap from&𓄧nbsp;the rider in 1st and the rider 🀅in 15th position is very small," he said.

"That makes a difference also in the way you test. Because in the tests you can see a lot of fast riders, but ꦐin the races it is always the same riders in the front, more or less.

"Because there is a way to make a test, which i꧋s without taking a lot of risks and trying to understand a🎃ll the pieces you try.

"It's not ea♋sy because sometim🎀es you see a lot of riders are fast in a test, so you can feel 'it’s not the best day for me'.

"But you have to stay calm and co🐓nti💛nue to work in your box, because the details will make a difference in the race weekend."

The first official MotoGP test of 2018 takes place 🌄at Sepang from January 28-30, when Dovizioso and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo are expected to debut the GP๊18 Ducati.