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MotoGP, Dall’Igna: “It's nice to see the Japanese chasing us"

The Borgo Panigale engineer: “Ducati has become the reference in the championship, we don't need to revolutionise any more”

MotoGP: Dall’Igna: “It's nice to see the Japanese chasing us"

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2017 confirmed that his bike is the most competitive of the lot. Gigi Dall’Igna is without doubt one of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer's secrets. Since arriving in Ducati, he has turned the project around, the red bike playing a starring role and fighting for the world title. Last year they lost out at the final race but now the plan is to try again.

Gigi, there are high hopes for the new bike. What has improved with respect to the previous bike?

"It's still too early to answer this question– begins the engineer-  we have some ideas, evaluated with the simulator but sometimes simulation doesn't reflect reality. So it's better to wait until after the Buriram test to reply. We've considered ways to improve the frame of course, but these still need to be confirmed. Let's say that the tests in Sepang and Thailand will be more important than ever this time”.

Last season, the red bike was still appearing to struggle at those flowing tracks, like Phillip Island in particular. Something the general manager is very aware of.

“We have continued to grow in every sector. A few elements of the bike bother us, one of these is represented by the Australian race, though in previous years we'd seen some more positive performances at that track. So we focused part of our efforts on this area, in the hope of seeing results”.

Then there is the tyre issue, though Dall’Igna doesn't appear worried.

I don't think Michelin will propose different material this year. The tyres will be more or less those of 2017 with a few refinements. I don't see the tyres as being an irregular element in 2018”.

Their performance in the last championship has undoubtedly only increased the ambitions of the Borgo Panigale team. The general manager is keeping his feet firmly on the ground though.

“I'm not particularly nervous. As I've said, in previous years we've seen significant growth and have made few mistakes. I'm not saying that I'd do it all the same again, technically and sportingly, but I'd only really change a few things. This allows me to look to the future calmly”.

Many expect to see Lorenzo fighting for victory, perhaps in a head to head with Dovi.

“That's what I hope with all my heart - admits Dall’Igna -it would be great, but also a difficult situation to manage. Every team manager hopes to find himself in that situation. Jorge, in the final part of the season, took a big step forward and so if he were to win it wouldn't surprise me. He still needs a little something to get back to being what he was in previous years, I think it's confidence in certain situations”.

Returning to the evolution of the bike, the new aerodynamics are a talking point, something we'll not see until Buriram/Qatar.

I don't think we need any real revolution, unlike when we were running far from the front. We don't need to take that risk any more. It's more a case of refining what we have”.  

The engineer is pleased with the work being carried out.  

“I'm pleased with what I have available right now. What we have is enough to be able to fight for the title”.

Petrucci will also line up with the 2018 Desmosedici.

Danilo will have our bike, we'll decide what kind of development to carry out based on how the season goes - comments Dall’Igna -  if he finds he's able to fight for the win, we'll give him everything he needs".

Away from the track, market negotiations will also take centre stage this season.

It will be an important year for this too - admits the engineer - it's no longer the case that a few manufacturers field the best riders. The pool is larger and I think that the situation might become a problem”.

There is the riders' market but also that of the technicians and engineers. Some have left Borgo Panigale to follow new paths.

“I think it's normal for a team that reaches a certain level to see some of its members attracted by the competition.We are also the only European manufacturer to have achieved these kind of results. This is part of the game and seeing the Japanese chasing when it comes to our technicians and aerodynamics is nice. It means we're the reference in the championship”.

What do you think about the Yamaha fairing?

“All regulations are open to interpretation. I don't know if their fairing has been homologated or not. We'll see in Sepang”.

To close, Dall’Igna outlines the path to follow during testing.

“The first two tests will serve to define the Ducati. So we need to leave Buriram with the bike ready. The Qatar test will be about refining the bike ahead of the race”.

As already mentioned, there will only be one available frame.

“Last year the frames were slightly different. Dovizioso preferred a particular type of development with respect to Jorge”.   

Translated by Heather Watson
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