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“This year we have no excuses.” Gigi Dall’Igna did not beat around the bush on the day the new Ducati livery was unveiled. The expression on the face of the father of the GP17 gives the feeling that this time, the ‘Red’ from Borgo Panigale will be able to set its sights on a truly important goal. Jorge Lorenzo represents the ace up their sleeve to aim for the world title, although the issue of how to overcome the removal of the winglets remains an unknown.
“In these months we have tried to find a compromise to take on the changes forced by the regulations. There is certainly no true alternative. Without winglets, the bike will be faster on the straight, but definitely lower performance. That means that it will be a step back in terms of performance and safety.”
It is often said that the Ducati is too demanding from a physical point of view.
“Let’s just say that it is one of the things we are working on. There are a few ideas, but they need to be confirmed on the track and not just in words. I can’t wait to be in Sepang to assess all the material at the first test.”
Last year in Malaysia you were lagging behind.
“In the race and in the dry, the bike performed well. I am not terribly interested in having the best time in Sepang. I prefer to be ahead in Qatar. In Malaysia, the essential thing will be taking advantage of all the time available.”
Where will you feel the absence of the winglets?
“Maybe on some tracks like Qatar we won’t have this problem. On the other hand, on other tracks like Jerez there may be some difficulties. Obviously it is a situation that involves all the teams.”
When will we see the GP17’s aerodynamics?
“We expect some steps forward in the next tests, although I think we will need to wait until Qatar. It will be unveiled only at the last minute.”
Is Losail the right track for a win with Jorge?
“It is a track we have always liked. Our riders like it, but it is only the first race. If we don’t win, it will not be a tragedy. What counts is finishing as far ahead as possible at the end of the season. Qatar is certainly not a decisive race for the season.”
Lorenzo used three words to define this new adventure: magic, creativity and method.
“I think creativity is the quality a mechanic needs for his job. I consider him, on the other hand, to be a concentrate of precision.”
Is there a bit more pressure than previous seasons?
“2017 will be an important year like the first year was, but also the second. In these years we laid a brick or two more in the structure that will lead us to battling for the Championship. Now we just need to do the rest.”
How much do you think Lorenzo has changed?
“Jorge is very similar to the way he was ten years ago. Obviously there was not much of a chance to go deeper after the first outing in Valencia. He was certainly happy and serene after those two days, but we are aware that during the season there will also be difficult moments to face.”
What is your work focused on?
“We have tried to work more on the limits in turns and the first phase of opening the throttle, but also on our strong points. If we had not preserved our advantages it would have been a serious mistake.”
Did you spend more time in the wind tunnel last year for the winglets or this year without them?
“A lot more thinking and simulations were done once the new regulation on the winglets was made official. This has certainly implied a hefty financial expense, plus the bike without winglets is definitely lower performance and more dangerous.”
How important is it to have Casey Stoner on the team?
“He is an extraordinary rider, able to convey every detail of the bike’s performance.”
