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After the total domination that saw it as protagonist in 2022, Ducati has hit the ground running in the early part of the championship, in which it has monopolized the top of the MotoGP and SBK classifications. We have been discussing this start with the General Manager of Ducati Corse, Gigi Dall'Igna, a guest of our Bar Sport (which you can see in full above).
“In Superbike there's not much to say. Alvaro and the whole team are doing a truly wonderful job. We only ‘failed’ in one race, while all the others have gone in the best possible way - commented the engineer - Even in MotoGP, in my opinion, we have to be really happy. We’ve won four out of five races; we’ve done 1st, 2nd and 3rd, already twice this year; we are first and second in the riders’ standings, we are by a long way first in the constructors' standings; we’ve had some bad luck, Enea first who has virtually missed the entire championship so far; and we’ve also had some bad luck with Pecco, otherwise we would have been able to look down on the rest. Overall, it seems to me that the technical situation is great”.
As an engineer, do you feel more your successes with the Desmosedici, or those with the Panigale V4R?
“Honestly, they are successes of the whole team. It is all of Ducati Corse that is involved in these two projects, both of which are extremely important for us, for different reasons. I think it would be disrespectful to feel one’s successes and the others less. There are people working on both projects and they're doing some really great things and it feels right to respect both projects."
Jorge Lorenzo has been speculating that Marc Marquez might join Ducati. Is this a possible scenario in the future?
“First of all, I don't think Marc would agree to go to a non-factory team. He is a star and stars want to be treated as such. Upon his return after several months of inactivity, he had a wonderful race with Honda, so I would wait before saying that Marc and Honda will part ways at the end of 2024. I don't see it as obvious, on the contrary, I think there is every possibility that they can still do well together. Having said that, we are happy with the riders we have at the moment. We haven't been able to see the best of one of them yet because he was injured, but I hope to see him fit again at Mugello, and the other is Pecco. Last year he did stratospheric things with our bike. He did things that only a great champion can do. So, between now and 2024, a lot of water still has to pass under the bridge and anything can still happen ”.
What do you think of Yamaha's situation in MotoGP. Is the four-cylinder in line the Iwata manufacturer’s problem?
“Honestly, I think the V-four is the best configuration for this MotoGP, otherwise I would have done something different when I came to Ducati. Nonetheless, it must be said that the in-line four-cylinder won with Quartararo, so I don't think it's a solution that cannot be done well. You simply have to look for a different compromise, because it has other characteristics. Every philosophy has positives and negatives and the task of the engineers lies precisely in trying to limit the problems that the engine architecture brings and maximize the advantages it gives you. It's up to the designers to make the best compromise possible. If I had to go back, I'd make a V4 again, but I think Yamaha can win again with the in-line four-cylinder".
