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One step away from the end of the Mugello GP in which Bagnaia and Bastianini, blue for the occasion, cashed in a magnificent one-two, there also came the confirmation that the paddock and fans had been waiting for with bated breath for months. Marc Marquez has been confirmed in the factory team alongside Bagnaia from the upcoming 2025 season, a two-year agreement between the eight-time Spanish champion and the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer that thus goes on to make up "the strongest team in Ducati's history,"as Dall'Igna said to Sky TV's microphones. The words of the engineer - the father of the most competitive bike in MotoGP - were highly expected, and in an interview with Sky TV he clarified all the doubts and questions about this incredible market move.
What pushed you toward the choice of Marc Marquez over Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini?
"We were pushed by the awareness reached in recent months that he can really make a difference on our bike," engineer Dall'Igna began, "our bike has reached incredible levels, and having two riders of that level allows us to have a better chance of winning the world championship, which is our main goal. As Max Biaggi once said, racing is not a classical music concert, anything can happen, and having two riders capable of fighting for the title is the best thing for Ducati."
What does the arrival of Marc Marquez in the factory team represent for you and Ducati? Is it an achieved goal, a new challenge for Borgo Panigale?
"It is not an achieved goal, our goal has always been to win world championships, and having both Marc and Pecco allows us to try to achieve these goals. Our rivals have now been strengthened with the arrival of our current riders so next season it will definitely be more complicated to be able to chase that goal."
With Marc's arrival in red Ducati will have one of the strongest teams ever, although the initial goal was to keep Jorge Martin as well. Marc initially said he was open to a factory bike in a satellite team, then what happened?
"Definitely the initial goal was to keep both of them. We knew from the beginning that it would be complicated, but we pursued it until we realized that it was no longer possible and that we would have to decide between the two. It was a very complicated decision but in the end we opted for Marc."
Marc is a media presence, with two phenomena in the box, each one different from the other, could it also be difficult to manage in terms of the future direction of the development?
"From a development point of view, I'm not worried at all. We have our own philosophy, and we have always followed more than one rider during development. I think taking into account the opinion of more than one rider is an added value in the development of the bike. Simply Marc from this year has become one of these riders. On the other hand, I have some concerns about sporting management, the climate that is currently experienced in the team and in the Ducati box is wonderful and the goal is to make sure that things do not change next year as well."
What was Pecco's reaction to this choice? Could this be one of the most important tests of his career?
"I don't think Pecco needs any further examination. He has already amply demonstrated what he is capable of, he has already won two world championships, and on the bike he does fantastic things, like that start in the first two corners we just saw at Mugello. I honestly don't think Pecco has anything more to prove, he is our flag, that's why we signed him before the championship started."
Now you have two champions, Bagnaia and Marquez, both with many titles on their shoulders. Will they fight at the same level on the Ducati?
"I think so, they are two champions. Both of them have determination, both of them know how to suffer. Marc has suffered a lot in these years, Pecco did last season and reacted. In those moments you can see the spirit of the champion, and in my opinion they will fight it out on equal terms."
How much did economic considerations weigh in this choice?
"I'm not a marketing man, if one wanted to make the company go bankrupt just give me the marketing to manage and I would surely achieve the goal," joked the engineer. "Certainly my choice of Marc Marquez was purely of a sporting nature. Then it is clear that within the company there were also those who made this kind of reasoning. Marc is a divisive character, there are those who love him to death and those who hate him to death. Maybe in italy less, but around the world there are so many fans rooting for him."
Team Pramac is a historical partner of Ducati. Is there a real risk of losing this partnership?
"The risk of losing Pramac is definitely real, the whole world is rooting for it to do something different from Ducati. For us it would be a personal and sporting disappointment. Pramac and Campinoti have been with us for a very long time, they have been part of the success that we have right now, so it would be a disappointment but it's all still to be evaluated. Effectively though, the problem exists."
Jorge Martin may have been disappointed by this choice, but he is still leading the standings. Will management change with him in this second half of the championship?
"We are doing a sport, and we have to be sporting. Nothing can be said about the management of the bikes and riders, even in the customer teams, by Ducati in these years. All our riders have had the opportunity to express their talent and to grow and improve with our bikes. So Martin will not lack either technical or human support from us."
All this happened two days after Ducati's triumph at Mugello, with a splendid one-two in blue with Bagnaia and Bastianini. A Bastianini to whom credit must be given despite perhaps already being out of Ducati's future plans.
"Enea has done wonderful things with Ducati since his debut with Team Gresini, a more private team than Martin. He had a wonderful run in Ducati and arrived in the factory team. Unfortunately he's had bad luck, he missed a good half of last season because of a crash in the first race and he's only had the last few races and the first few this season to prove himself. We know he is worth a lot as a rider but we had two titans already prepared and ready to fight, and he was sidelined earlier."
A painful decision then, how many sleepless nights did you spend before making it?
"Let's say that maybe from tonight I can start getting more rest," Dall'Igna jokingly admitted, "the decision to be made was very difficult and complicated, not only from the sporting point of view but also from the human side. None of the three has ever gone out of line once. There were maybe some clashes on the track but they were always resolved well, race episodes and no improprieties. It was a painful decision, I changed my mind several times in these days and months, but in the end I am convinced of the choice. I think we have the best team in Ducati's history. I am happy for both myself and my collaborators."
When was the decision actually made?
"It was on Sunday, after the race . We had made a kind of 'embryo' decision on Saturday afternoon, and then we finalized it the next day after the race on Sunday. We had little time to sort out the details for a contract as important as Marc's, and that's why we didn't make the announcement right away."
The upcoming season promises to be incredible: In Formula 1 the arrival of Hamilton at Ferrari, in MotoGP the arrival of Marc Marquez in Ducati.
"I hope it will be a season as good as these last ones we are experiencing. I don't remember ever seeing as many wonderful races as these that our riders have been able to do. I can also imagine the fans at home how much fun they will have watching our riders 'beat' each other on the track."
