Outgoing Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso has explained his decision to turn down a ride in Lucio Cecchinello's LCR Honda and opt for a ride with Herve Poncharal's satellite Yamaha Tec3 time, saying it was time to try something new.

The quiet Italian, who currently sits third in the championship standings, was informed he was surplus to the factory Honda team's requirements and after ten years of racing for Honda, he looked at the bikes on offer and opted for the YZR-M1.

"I race for ten years in Honda and I made my career with Honda because I believe in Honda. To decide to go away is hard but I think the situation we are in now with HRC and Repsol is a time to try and go in another way. Already they had two strong riders in Repsol and my feeling is they don't need others riders," said Dovizioso, speaking to bikesportnews.com.

"I have already made three years in the Repsol team. I have had my chance and now is the moment to try another way where I believe I can be good because I still think I can win the championship. I don't want to say next year I can win the championship but it is one way for the future.

"If I am faster next year than this year, maybe I will have lots of proposals, the results will make the difference. The contract is for next year and I want to see how I will be on the Yamaha, then I can decide my future, factory team, another brand, whatever.

"It was really bad for me to say no to LCR. It is a really good team. Lucio (Cecchinello) really pushed for me these last two-three months in a really good way and I think he stopped me deciding to go to Yamaha one month ago but I have to decide about the bike not about the teams. Now I just want to arrive third in this year's championship."