Gigi Dall'Igna has been commenting on last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix in his regular social media roundup, but this time it was a weekend in chiaroscuro for the factory team. On the one hand Marc Marquez dominated the Sprint and GP on a track where he had never managed to win in the past, on the other hand Pecco Bagnaia struggled once again on one of his favorite circuits.
"An unstoppable Marc wins in Austria for the first time in his career, adding the sixth consecutive "double" in his honour board, lifting Ducati's wins at this track to 10 and making the Red Bull Ring the most victorious venue for us - analyzed the General Manager of Ducati Corse - A race built on a targeted strategy and managed with great sagacity after the unfortunate crash in the qualifying round that forced him to fourth place on the grid. An exciting, spectacular and most certainly challenging Grand Prix. Marc was able to bide his time, manage the tyres at best and deliver the decisive attack in the second half of the race."
The engineer from the Veneto didn't spare any compliments when talking about Aldeguer.
"After his third place at Le Mans, Aldeguer was the protagonist of a fabulous test on a track that, he says, he does not even like...! A marvellous performance, an exciting comeback and an impressive race pace to the finish, that of a true champion. In all, a performance that marks his destiny: the courage and talent of a rookie with the quality and shrewdness of someone who knows more than his "twenties" would denote. Big congratulations to him and Team Gresini, always among the key players," were his words.
Of course, the hot topic revolved around Bagnaia, a rider in crisis and discouraged.
"Pecco tried hard to vie for a podium that seemed within his grasp. It was a weekend that started in a very encouraging manner, but then things took a different turn, also due to some unfortunate incidents in both Sprint and GP race. To prove that the key word always remains the same: positivity," Dall'Igna underlined, "We have no doubt about the potential of the champion and the bike. Together, we must "pitch our efforts," as always. We have to understand and accept disappointment, confront it continuously without ever letting go, and insist to the end. Experience teaches us that when things go wrong there is always something that adds up to the frustration and gets in the way: one has to keep a clear head, consider the good things that have been done and start again from this, like in the practice runs at the beginning of the weekend."
Despite Pecco's problems, Ducati once again brought home the maximum result.
"More generally, I am happy with what we're doing, I thank all the guys who are working so hard for this, even more so at a time when the signs of reaction from our competitors are so strong and clear," was Gigi's closing remark.