Andrea Dovizioso heads to his favourite circuit of Sepang in Malaysia his weeke𒐪nd, already confirmed as MotoGP title runner-up for the third successive season.

The Ducati star arrives at the penultimate round holding a ꧙57-point advantage over Suzuki's Alex Rins, with a maximum of 50-points remaining.

“The Sepang circuit is for sure the 🅰one I prefer more than any other in the world championship," Dovizioso said. "On this track I have some great memories and I’m able to ride to my best 𝓡characteristics, but at the same time it’s one of the most demanding races on the calendar.

"Heat and humidity are ✃two factors that have particularly af🐻fected us in the past, so let’s see what will happen this year.

"On paper I think that we can be competitive in all conditions, with or without rain, as we have shown in the past, but nowadays in MotoGP it’s really di📖fficult to make predictions.”

Dovizioso was fourth fastest at the end of February's 𝐆Sepang pre-season test, led by team-mate Danilo Petrucci. But the Italian will be nursing a foot injury from Sunday's huge Phillip Island highside.

“Unfortunately the crash at Phillip Island had some repercussions and, even though nothing is broken, my ankle is still hurting and it’s difficult for me to put my foot down," said Petrucc𒁃i, fifth in the world championship but only 1-points from Alex Rins in 🏅third.

"I h🧔ope that the pain will go down in the next couple of days and that 💎I can race normally.

"In aﷺny case, Sepang offers us another chance to accumulate points and we have to make the most of it. We still have two races to fight for third place in the world championship and for the Teams’ title, which is now my main aim.”

The Ducati Te🦩am currently holds a one-point advantage over Repsol Honda.