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Andrea Dovizioso's second win has projected the Ducatista forward to just 7 points from the championship leader, so theoretically he's well and truly in the mix for the title.
The Barcelona Grand Prix proved to be the Achilles heel for the Yamaha of Maverick Vinales, and, subsequently, for Valentino Rossi, struggling more than their rivals to adapt to the Michelins, when the track offers little grip. On the other side, Marc Marquez is making up positions and points with his aggressive riding, while Dani Pedrosa is enjoying one of his best ever season starts.
The four stars could soon be joined by Jorge Lorenzo, who continues to grow, although it is Dovi, for now, who is consistently stronger, Jerez aside.
But is the Italian really ready to fight for the title, after having double his points tally over the last week with the wins at Mugello and Barcelona?
"We are starting from the premise that Dovizioso has already won a title – responds the Ducati Corse chief, Gigi Dall'Igna - He is a champion and has many qualities, some that are out of the ordinary compared to other riders. Let's take the last two races as an example: he was a real perfectionist, he managed the last two races in text-book fashion. For me he has all the characteristics needed to fight for the title. Winning it depends on many things. Right now, I prefer not to reason it out".
Could Dovi's success destabilise Jorge Lorenzo?
"Naturally it's always a problem when one rider is stronger than the other, but 'Giorgio' is a champion. He will try to react and us too, to help him achieve the same results as Andrea. It's all part of the game. I'm very optimistic, Lorenzo is understanding more and more how to ride our bike and we are understand what he needs, so gradually his results will improve".
At Barcelona he started out strong, then mid-race he inexplicably dropped off the pace.
"Jorge has always been strong in the first lap. That's nothing new. It's one of the reasons he's won so much. Mid-race, when he was passed, he disconnected for three or four laps, and got a little confused. Without those laps, he could have been on the podium".
Dovi and Jorge have different riding characteristics. Is it difficult to satisfy the needs of both?
"Essentially, they are asking for the same things with different facets, they're aligned, and this is a good sign. We are working, if we had stood still we wouldn't have won at Mugello or Barcelona. We're trying some different things from what we thought was right in the past. Our development plan involves some new things that will arrive mid-season, so fairly shortly".
The other manufacturers are full steam ahead. In the tests after the Barcelona GP, Yamaha brought two frames and a fairing.
"New components don't have to be visible from the outside to be important. We also brought frames that differ in terms of their rigidity but this is not visible. Sometimes you hope modifications have a significant effect while instead it is only small".
You are consistently the fastest. Where does this supremacy come from, is it only the Desmo that can find extra horsepower?
"Ducati has always had high-performing engines, and I too, throughout my career, have tried to have fast engines. That's our philosophy. We have always sought of this kind of advantage. Over the course of the championship, having a few extra horsepower always bears fruit".
This championship, which appeared at first to be in Vinales' hands, is developing into a very unexpected situation. Is this due, or thanks to the tyres?
"The bikes in the field have very different characteristics. Honda, Yamaha and Ducati are particularly high-performing in certain situations but not in others. This makes for an exciting championship. To be honest, it looks like Michelin provides great tyres in certain situations while in others they are hard to manage, but with regard to Barcelona, I'd blame the asphalt rather than the track. It needs to be redone if they want to continue to host the MotoGP".
We can't avoid the subject - everyone is asking whether this Ducati is a title contender.
"Barcelona, on paper, was not a favourable track for us. Capirossi won Ducati's first ever race there in 2003. Jerez isn't either, where Lorenzo scored a third place finish. But I prefer to keep my feet on the ground and not change our way of thinking. Our next aim is the Dutch GP".
After just seven Grand Prix the riders market is already bubbling. Aprilia opened the season, setting its sights on Danilo Petrucci, who right now is under contract with Ducati, as a possible replacement for Sam Lowes.
"It takes two to make an agreement – said Gigi Dall'Igna - Danilo, at the end of 2017, will have to decide what to do. We are pleased with the progress he has made. He's matured a great deal, he has adapted to the bike, he knows how to exploit it, he knows it well. I hope we can find the way to keep him with us".
