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MotoGP, Dall'Igna: Ducati already 'ready' for Lorenzo

"We won't need to make changes to the bike Jorge. Me a genius? The people working with me are"

Dall'Igna: Ducati already 'ready' for Lorenzo

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Jorge Lorenzo defined Gigi Dall'Igna, his old friend and the general manager of Ducati Corse, as “a genius”. How does the engineer respond to the compliment? “I thank him for his words but I'm not a genius - he replied - I've just been able to help the people working with me to  give the maximum. Perhaps it's me that is surrounded by geniuses, it's not down to me but down to the whole group".

Will Lorenzo be number 1 in Ducati?
“As I've always done throughout my career, I'll give both riders the best material at the start of the season. Then, logically, as the year goes on, we'll help the rider who's doing the best in the championship, but they'll start in the same conditions."

Will Lorenzo feel particular pressure in the team?
No, I don't want any excuse, I have a goal to achieve. I sometimes read that Ducati's not winning because of its riders, I don't agree with that at all. As I said, I don't want excuses."

And if you don't win with Lorenzo, what would happen?
Simple, I'll go home (he laughs)”.

Do you think Lorenzo's riding style can bring out the best of the Desmosedici?
I know Jorge's characteristics well and think that our bike, right now, can give him what he needs to be fast. Logically we'll need to make some modifications, just as Lorenzo will have to adapt with his talent."

Are you already thinking about him in terms of the 2017 bike?
We're already working on it, but I'm convinced that we won't need to introduce any particular changes."

How did you convince him to move to Ducati?
“It's difficult to say, because our relationship has remained intact over the years and we've always kept in touch . More than this, I think that our growth from a technical and organisational standpoint probably had the greatest influence. We're the best in that regard."

Will Lorenzo have a say in choosing the second rider?
It's Ducati's decision, we didn't talk about it with him during negotiations and won't do now either."

When will you decide?
There's no actual deadline, but I think it's only respectful to the two Andreas that we start talking. I think the situation will be resolved after the Barcelona GP".

Translated by Heather Watson
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