Ducati had some reasons to smile about in this Australian GP, in a day of debuts for two riders aboard a Desmosedici: Johann Zarco won for the first time in MotoGP, and Fabio Di Giannantonio got his first podium in the class.

General Manager Ducati Corse at Ducati Motor Holding, Dall’Igna came to social media to make a few comments on the australian day, regarding the first day: ‘A strange race, concentrated as it was in the last two laps and heavily conditioned by tyre consumption. An exciting finale that ends with a thrilling all-Ducati podium order of arrival’.

He then didn’t miss the chance to praise Zarco’s first win ever in MotoGP, a win that came after the french, who has seven years in the class, got to reach the first position on the last lap of the main race: ‘We applaud Zarco’s first win in MotoGP, a well-deserved victory, the result of an exemplary conduct that showed all his talent. Congratulations to Pramac, once again proving their excellent team work and the skill of their riders’.

He extended such words towards DiGia: ‘The same applies to Team Gresini, whose Di Giannantonio managed to mount the podium for the first time in the top class, a rider that proved battle-hardened and determined as never before, protagonist among top performers in all recent races’.

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna praised Zarco and Di Giannantonio’s results in Phillip Island in ‘a strange race’ where tyre consumption was crucial aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Marc Márquez’s recent switch from Honda to Gresini after 11 seasons with the Japanese team has been a hot topic in the MotoGP world. Ducati, on the other hand, welcomes this development. The chief engineer of the Italian brand, Dall’Igna, is among those celebrating the move. In an interview with Australian Motorcycle News (AMCN), the Italian discussed Márquez’s signing and the current championship battle within Ducati.

Ducati boasts a roster of champions, and currently, three of its riders are vying for the 2023 title. Dall’Igna acknowledges the situation and anticipates another contender joining the fray next year. He emphasized the importance of good management, especially with the addition of a champion like Márquez. However, he firmly stated that Bastianini’s position is not up for debate.

Interestingly, Honda had tried to lure Dall’Igna away from Ducati, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Dall’Igna revealed that he had discussions with the Japanese team but feels at home with Ducati. He expressed gratitude for his current position and mentioned his immense respect for Honda, especially after they approached him.

Dall’Igna is excited about Márquez joining Ducati and believes the Spanish rider can bring out the best in the Italian bike. He compared the situation with Bezzecchi, who, despite riding last year’s bike, is competing for the title this season. The chief engineer is optimistic about Márquez’s potential but also acknowledges that much will depend on the rider.

The uncertainty surrounding Márquez’s future post-2023, given his one-year contract with Gresini, has raised eyebrows. This makes him a free agent, opening doors not just to the Ducati factory team but also to Aprilia and KTM. As a result, Ducati is cautious about sharing technical secrets, fearing he might move elsewhere in 2025.

Dall’Igna also touched upon Johann Zarco’s move to Honda from Ducati next year, emphasizing that knowledge transfer is inevitable in such situations. He appreciates the ongoing championship battle between Pecco and Martín and hopes for a sportsmanlike duel till the end. He also expressed confidence in Bagnaia’s ability to handle pressure and lauded Martín and Bezzecchi for their performances this season.

With all these developments, the MotoGP landscape is set for some thrilling races and behind-the-scenes drama in the coming seasons.

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna Expresses High Regard for Honda and Discusses Márquez’s Move to Ducati aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Francesco Bagnaia returned to the winning ways this sunday at Mandalika after beating Maverick Viñales who is still looking for his first win with Aprilia, as for Fabio Quartararo, he was again on the podium. The rider’s team bosses already reacted to the race results of this sunday.

Get to know their opinion on what happened with the riders, each from the podium.

Gigi Dall’Igna (Ducati/Francesco Bagnaia): ‘It’s unbelievable. it’s really unbelievable here. He recovered really well during the race and honestly I didn’t expected this kind of race: he pushed, pushed, pushed all the time and we are really really happy’.

Massimo Rivola (Aprilia/Maverick Viñales): ‘It was a real fight for Maverick, at a certain point we saw his rear tyre was gone. He managed well, his pace was consistent, didn’t have the pace from Pecco when he got him. Honestly I thought Fabio had more than him, so he was really good in defending. Wrong tyre choice for Aleix, completely and clearly’.

Massimo Meregalli (Yamaha/Fabio Quartararo): ‘Superb! The race has been long but not long enough, because maybe with a couple of more laps who knows how the race could have finished but I’m very happy. You know what we are dealing with, it is very tough and when you get to the podium anyway it’s a boost because of the work we are doing, even though it’s not visible, but I can garantee we are pushing like hell’.

O conteúdo Get to know Gigi Dall’Igna, Rivola and Meregalli’s thoughts on Indonesia GP sunday race aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The motorcycle racing world was abuzz with the potential “exchange of the century”: Marc Marquez for Gigi Dall’Igna, or vice versa. The idea was to swap the most accomplished active rider for the most skilled engineer in the paddock. However, the dynamics of MotoGP don’t exactly work that way. As a result, Ducati retained its chief engineer and also acquired the Spanish champion.

As rumors had been suggesting, Honda tried to lure Gigi Dall’Igna. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Dall’Igna confirmed these speculations. He explained his decision to decline Honda’s offer, stating, “I am comfortable at Ducati. I’ve worked hard to get Ducati to a position where it’s considered a model. Leaving now might not have been logical. While I’ve achieved what I set out to do here, Honda presents an equally interesting and significant challenge.”

The challenge would have been immense, especially working with the Japanese, who have a very different mindset from the West. It remains a mystery whether Dall’Igna would have been able to influence that mindset.

Honda’s move to approach a European engineer is unprecedented. Historically, they’ve always preferred to keep things in-house, relying on their Japanese engineers. This shift can be interpreted in two ways. On one hand, it might indicate a sign of weakness, acknowledging that recent MotoGP innovations, like aerodynamics and lowering devices, which originated in Europe, have left them trailing. On the other hand, it could show Honda’s willingness to evolve, recognizing their shortcomings and being open to external influences.

Dall’Igna is curious to see Marquez’s performance on the Desmosedici. While he has no doubts about Marquez’s competitiveness, he’s keen to see how his presence might disrupt the internal dynamics of the team. “This is a concern, one of the challenges to face,” Dall’Igna mentioned. “We’ll need to skillfully manage strong riders with strong personalities. Beyond Marc, we already have a significant concentration of champions. Another one is coming, perhaps more prominent, but it’s a job we know how to do.”

O conteúdo Honda has tried to make the “exchange of the century”: Marc Marquez for Gigi Dall’Igna aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Japanese Grand Prix ended prematurely due to the worsening weather conditions, which seriously complicated the safety of the riders, and in the end Jorge Martin secured another victory, beating (again) Francesco Bagnaia, in a result that earned praise from Gigi Dall’Igna, with the italian also leaving very positive words for Pramac.

The General Manager Ducati Corse at Ducati Motor Holding gave his view of the events on Linkedin, and how these were not the best conditions for the reigning world champion: ‘A GP that speaks for itself, repeatedly conditioned by the rain and halted halfway, at a moment that was decisive. We were fast and competitive, Pecco was giving of his best in conditions that he doesn’t particularly like and it would have been most interesting to see the ultimate result of a challenge that we were managing, so to speak, with a focussed race strategy’. 

If on the one hand Bagnaia managed his first podium in wet conditions, the truth is that in the last few GPs the fight for the title has been completely relaunched, with Martín now just three points behind #1:

– A spirited Jorge, relentless, another perfect weekend for bike and rider, yet another pearl for a Team that is working superbly, nurturing World Championship ambitions that honour the great Ducati family. For us, nevertheless, a positive weekend during which we worked well and were turning out a good performance in general, particularly taking into consideration those wet conditions.

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna praises Jorge Martin and Pramac: ‘Spirited and relentless; Another pearl and nurturing World Championship ambitions’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Marc Márquez’s future outside of Repsol Honda still isn’t official, but on the sidelines of the MotoGP Japanese GP, Gigi Dall’Igna may have let slip an unofficial confirmation. The rider has been linked to Gresini, with a satellite Ducati bike.

Ducati Corse’s general manager said in an interview with Sky Sport Italia: ‘Marc has been one of the strongest riders in history. So, the fact that he strongly wants to ride a Ducati can only be pleasing. He has decided to leave Honda for an unofficial Ducati; if anything, this emphasizes that he wants our bike’.

When asked if this is a sign that Márquez has already made his decision, Dall’Igna poured cold water on it by stating: ‘This is what I’ve heard, but of course, it’s not official yet. I believe there are many things to be done, and I think it’s a complicated contract to break. In the event that he wants to break it, clearly… But it seems to me that these are the statements made. From our perspective, they are pleasing’.

Emphasizing that nothing is confirmed yet, the Ducati executive believes that if Márquez joins Gresini, it will be up to the manufacturer to manage: ‘The arrival is still to be defined; there is no official confirmation yet. But apart from that, we are focused on the ongoing championship, which still has many things to say. And we still have many races to go. Márquez is, for many reasons, a formidable rider: certainly, there is concern that he might somehow disrupt the balance within all the Ducati teams. But this may eventually be part of the game, and it will be up to us to handle the situation well’.

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna «confirms» Marc Márquez at Gresini? ‘He decided to leave Honda for an unofficial Ducati’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Gigi Dall’Igna, the General Director of Ducati Corse, has expressed his pleasure regarding the arrival of Franco Morbidelli to Pramac Racing in 2024. He is confident that with Ducati’s latest motorcycle, Morbidelli will finally be able to showcase his full potential in MotoGP.

In an official statement, Dall’Igna shared his happiness about having the Italian rider on board. He mentioned, “It’s a pleasure for us to welcome Franco Morbidelli to our Pramac Racing team, which is supported by the factory, for the upcoming sports season, riding an official Desmosedici GP.”

Dall’Igna believes that this could be the golden opportunity for the former Moto2 world champion, who has already won GPs in the premier category, to demonstrate his capabilities. He elaborated, “Franco is a rider of immense talent and experience, and on more than one occasion, he has showcased his strength and speed. It’s no coincidence that in 2020, he was the MotoGP World Vice-Champion, winning three Grand Prix races. We are confident that, together with the Prima Pramac Racing team and thanks to our support, he will be able to exhibit his full potential. We are eagerly looking forward to embarking on this new and thrilling adventure together.”

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna confident that in 2024 Franco Morbidelli will be able to ‘show his full potential’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

After suffering an injury in Barcelona, Francesco Bagnaia was determined to participate in the San Marino GP, even though he was significantly impaired. This commitment earned him high praise from Gigi Dall’Igna, who commended the Italian rider for enduring the pain and securing two podium finishes. Meanwhile, Jorge Martín, according to Dall’Igna, possesses all the necessary attributes to become a champion.

Dall’Igna, the General Director of Ducati Corse, was quoted by MOW, highlighting Bagnaia’s resilience: “Pecco could have lost more points; he was extraordinary.” He then shifted his focus to discuss Martín, who was the standout rider the past Sunday.

Dall’Igna stated, “Jorge Martín definitely has what it takes to win the world championship. With 37 points up for grabs each race weekend, achieving this is not impossible for him.”

The statement underscores the potential and talent of Jorge Martín and the belief within the Ducati team about his capabilities. As the MotoGP season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Martín leverages this confidence and how the championship unfolds.

O conteúdo ‘Jorge Martín has what it takes to win the world championship, and with 37 points up for grabs in each GP, it’s not impossible’ – Gigi Dall’Igna aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Ducati is currently experiencing glorious days in MotoGP. During the San Marino Grand Prix, the team managed to place three riders in the top positions in both races, a feat that left Gigi Dall’Igna extremely pleased. Dall’Igna, in his remarks, pointed out some distinct differences in the attitudes of the riders who secured the top three positions: Jorge Martín (1st), Marco Bezzecchi (2nd), and Francesco Bagnaia (3rd).

The General Director of Ducati Corse commented on the personalities of these riders. He was quoted by MOW saying, “Martín seems to never take anything seriously. On the other hand, Pecco [Bagnaia] is the exact opposite: for him, everything is of utmost importance and needs to be clearly defined. As for Bezzecchi, I appreciate his affable nature towards the world. One needs to be smart enough to differentiate between what happens on the track and what transpires in the real world. There’s always a risk of things going awry, but I hope that doesn’t happen.”

Dall’Igna expressed his satisfaction with the camaraderie among the three riders, stating, “At this moment, it’s a pleasure working with them. The mere fact that none of them sees the other as an adversary brings a sense of calmness to our team.”

Ducati’s success in the MotoGP circuit, especially in the San Marino Grand Prix, underscores the team’s strategic decisions, training, and the unique strengths of each rider. The diverse personalities of Martín, Bezzecchi, and Bagnaia seem to complement each other, creating a harmonious environment that is conducive to achieving top results.

The contrasting approaches of the riders, as highlighted by Dall’Igna, offer a fascinating insight into the world of professional motorsports. While Martín’s laid-back attitude might be perceived as nonchalance, it could also be a strategy to manage pressure and stay relaxed during high-stakes races. Bagnaia’s meticulous nature, on the other hand, indicates a rider who leaves no stone unturned in his preparation, ensuring that every detail is perfect before hitting the track. Bezzecchi’s affability and ability to differentiate between the rigors of the racetrack and the realities of life show a balanced personality, which is crucial in a sport where mental strength is as important as physical prowess.

Ducati’s achievements in the MotoGP circuit are not just a testament to the skills of their riders but also to the management and the support staff who ensure that the team functions like a well-oiled machine. The harmony among the riders, as pointed out by Dall’Igna, is a significant factor in their success. In a sport where tensions can run high, and rivalries can become intense, the mutual respect and camaraderie among Ducati’s top riders set them apart.

As the MotoGP season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics within the Ducati team evolve, especially with the diverse personalities of their top riders. Whether they continue to dominate the circuit or face challenges, the bond among Martín, Bezzecchi, and Bagnaia will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping Ducati’s future in MotoGP.

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna highlights the differences between the top three at Misano: ‘Martin never takes anything seriously, and Bagnaia is the opposite’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The MotoGP paddock is always rife with speculation, and one of the most talked-about topics in recent times has been the future of Marc Márquez. The multiple-time world champion’s dissatisfaction with the Honda RC213V has been evident, and recent feedback on the 2024 model hasn’t been too positive either. This has led to increased rumors about where Márquez might land in the near future. One team that has been frequently mentioned in this context is Gresini Racing, which is believed to be in a strong position to acquire the services of the Spanish rider. However, another name that has emerged in this conversation is Ducati, a team with a rich history in the premier class.

Gigi Dall’Igna, the General Director of Ducati Corse, was recently interviewed by Paolo Ianieri from La Gazzetta dello Sport. When asked about the possibility of Ducati signing the former world champion for the 2024 season, Dall’Igna didn’t outright deny the speculation. He stated, “I don’t want to disrupt the harmony,” as quoted by MOW. This comment suggests that while there might be interest, Ducati is also wary of the potential challenges that such a high-profile signing could bring.

Further addressing the rumors linking Márquez to Gresini Racing, Dall’Igna emphasized the current positive atmosphere within Ducati. He mentioned that everyone in the team is in sync and that the overall environment is very harmonious. “When I consider this possibility, as with all things, there are pros and cons. I believe that the Ducati world, at this moment, is very beautiful, and everyone is doing well,” he added.

Ducati’s cautious approach is understandable. Márquez, with his aggressive riding style and never-say-die attitude, has been a dominant force in MotoGP for years. However, his recent struggles with Honda and the injuries he has sustained raise questions about how he would adapt to a new team and bike. Ducati, on the other hand, has been on an upward trajectory, with their riders consistently performing at the top. Introducing a big personality like Márquez into the mix could either propel the team to new heights or disrupt the existing balance.

Moreover, the relationship between a rider and his team goes beyond just performance on the track. There’s a synergy that needs to be maintained, a mutual understanding that ensures both parties are moving in the same direction. Márquez’s potential move to Ducati or any other team would not just be a matter of adapting to a new bike but also integrating into a new team culture.

For Márquez, the decision will be crucial. After spending so many years with Honda, a move to another team would signify a new chapter in his illustrious career. It would be a statement of intent, a demonstration of his desire to continue competing at the highest level and to add more championships to his name.

In the high-stakes world of MotoGP, where every decision can have significant ramifications, both Ducati and Márquez will be treading carefully. While the future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the next few months will be crucial in determining the trajectory of Márquez’s career and the composition of the MotoGP grid for the 2024 season.

O conteúdo Marc Márquez with Ducati in 2024? ‘I don’t want to spoil the harmony but there are pros and cons’ – Gigi Dall’Igna aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.