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MotoGP, VIDEO - Uncini: "Riders have always been aggressive, but now there's more safety"

"In the past there was neither Race Direction nor TV cameras, now we teach young riders to have respect on the track. Most of the circuits are safe for today's MotoGP. The protagonists of 2023? I'm waiting for the in-house battle between Enea and Pecco and the return of Marquez"

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We caught up with Franco Uncini at Vallelunga, and it was an opportunity for a day between past and present, flanked on one side by the 1975 750SS Ducati of Bruno Spaggiari and on the other by a Panigale V4S. Franco, born in 1955, world champion in 1982, has always lived his life among motorcycles, also becoming team manager of Ducati Corse in Superbike in 1991, to then end up in the world championship as the rider’s safety delegate on behalf of IRTA, and then in charge of Grand Prix safety on behalf of the FIM since 2013.

"This 750SS has a great history!" began Franco excitedly.

Actually, his career began with a Laverda SFC, but he went so fast that Ducati with foresight immediately set its sights on him, entrusting him with this 750SS with which he dominated.

"I had a great time on this bike - he continued - I remember that 1975 season well, it was great. It's exciting to see it again here at Vallelunga, the very track where I got my victories".

Getting the bike here wasn’t easy, we have all of Ducati to thank for the possibility of having it back here where it all began. But today you didn't ride with this one, but with the brand new Panigale…

"It was an incredible experience, you only use the clutch to start, I'm not used to it! The balance between stability and power is perfect. Huge steps forward have been made compared to the past, now it's the rider who needs a update!", joked Franco.

The tyres have also changed, today you rode with Supercorsa Pirelli V4s, a compound road tyre. And then with a V4S 'kitted up' with SC3 200/65 slicks, the most used in the Superbike world championship.

"I was really impressed by the grip, even though I admit I was cautious, but I didn't expect this sort of performance even from a compound intended for road use."

Compared to our era, times have now changed a lot. Today MotoGP riders have to train continuously, was that the case for you too?

"My training was riding a motorbike. Coming back after a winter without racing was always difficult, but from the second race I immediately picked up the rhythm".

After the 750 you moved on to the 250, you raced with the Aermacchi-Harley Davidson with Walter Villa, to then end up in the world championship by buying a Suzuki RG500, what impressions did it make on you?

"The 500 had always been my dream, especially after having had the opportunity to race in 250 and 350 with established teams. For me, coming from production-derived, heavier bikes, it wasn't so difficult because I was physically able to handle them" .

You have now retired permanently as MotoGP safety manager. From the outside, what are your impressions of this 2023 world championship? What did you think of the controversy surrounding the gravel in Portimao and the accidents of these first races?

"I'm enjoying the world championship itself, I'm sorry for Bagnaia, who has already made two big mistakes, one perhaps more serious than the other, but let's remember that last year too he suffered a decline and then recovered very well, so I can't I'm not worried about him."

Going back to talking about bikes, today we rode a Panigale V4S and a V4S 'kitted' with exhausts and ECU, but the MotoGP bikes are even more powerful. Building on your experience, do you think that the circuits are becoming inadequate to contain the technical steps forward, in amongst all the aerodynamics and increasingly cutting-edge electronics?

"Actually, most of the circuits are still quite safe. When in the past we asked to lengthen the run-off areas on some circuits, we did so with an eye to the future, staying wide and anticipating the inevitable improvements the sport is going to encounter".

Another side of safety, however, of course comes with the behaviour of the riders. Even in the past riders used to make contact with each other and were aggressive.

"That's true, but at the time there was no race direction, nor HD cameras to film or replays of any kind".

You too had your fair share of contacts and incidents…

"Of course, even though I think I've always had a fairly clean riding style. I remember that accident I had on Freddie Spencer, after overtaking Mamola I hit him. At the time many of these episodes slipped by under the radar. Today we try to teach the riders, especially the younger ones, to respect the others on the track, and I'd say that overall things are working quite well".

I remember with emotion the great rivalry between you and Lucchinelli, you both have two strong characters. There was the dualism between Kenny Roberts and Freddie Spencer, the one between Biaggi and Rossi, who do you see among the protagonists today?

"Unfortunately, Bastianini was injured at the start of the championship, but the absence of Marquez has also made itself felt not only this year. I think that if the Spaniard manages to solve all his problems, he could become a protagonist again. At Ducati, we still haven’t witnessed the battle that we all expected between Enea and Pecco, even if Bagnaia remains the man to beat at the moment".

 

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