Gigi Dall’Igna has been summing up the Austin weekend in his usual post-race analysis. In the USA, Ducati achieved little of note, securing just one podium finish in the Sprint race, thanks to Bagnaia. This result certainly fell far short of expectations, especially since Aprilia dominated and, once again, proved itself to be the best bike. Ducati Corse's General Manager is well aware that the time has come to roll up their proverbial sleeves and get back to the level everyone has come to expect from the Rossa.
“A GP that reflects the true values on the track, a lacklustre race that unfolded in a weekend with mixed results for us and that will have to be interpreted with great care,” the engineer from Veneto explained. “Saturday began with Diggia in pole position and Pecco and Marc starting from the second row of the grid. Unfortunately, Marc’s mistake in the Sprint cost him an onorous long-lap penalty in the main race, forcing on him a significant loss of positions against his closest pursuers, which prevented him from vying for the podium. As always, he was persistent and determined, managing to claw his way back up, to finish fifth, giving it his all, with the generosity and character that distinguish this champion, who never holds back.”
But Marquez was unable to make a difference on a circuit where he had previously always demonstrated overwhelming superiority.
“A Marc, however, who wasn’t at one hundred percent, due to Friday’s fall, and with a feel for the bike that was still uncertain, requiring a set-up that needs adjusting and doesn't allow him to be the Marc Marquez we know so well and have come to expect so much from,” Gigi continued. “If we add to that the steady improvement of our opponents, I dare say that the situation becomes very clear.”
Dall’Igna did have some words of praise for Pecco.
“Bagnaia came close to winning the Sprint. It was great and rewarding to see him racing in the lead for so long,” he said. “On Sunday, he didn’t get off to a good start, but he quickly made up for it with a determined and aggressive ride, in a fast and confident first half of the race. He showed the right determination of someone who wants to be a star, only to then run into a sharp drop in performance that caused him to increasingly lose positions, until he was relegated to tenth place at the flag.”
He also congratulated Di Giannantonio, the top Ducati rider on Sunday. “A rock-solid Diggia, finishing fourth, was once again Ducati's best rider in this occasion. A rough start followed by an excellent race Talent and maturity.”
Nonetheless, that doesn't seem to be enough now.
“What's crystal clear is that we need to work hard to improve and put our riders in a position to give their best, especially now that the opposition is proving to be so competitive. In the USA, we struggled more than we should have. A wake-up call that must push us to get back to winning, confident that it'll then be even better!” the CEO concluded optimistically.