Gigi Dall’Igna, the man behind Ducati’s rise to prominence in the MotoGP world, recently shared his insights on the current state of the championship and the swirling rumors around Marc Márquez’s potential move to Ducati.
Reflecting on his journey in the world of motorcycling, Dall’Igna said, “I feel good about where I am. Italy, with its rich motorcycling heritage, should be proud of its achievements in this challenging world. When I left Aprilia a decade ago, I never anticipated reaching this level. One of the reasons I left Noale was that I felt the conditions weren’t right to win the MotoGP World Championship. At that time, I lacked the interest in taking on such a complex and costly challenge.”
Speaking about Aprilia’s recent progress, especially evident in the Catalunya Grand Prix, Dall’Igna commented, “Aprilia seems to have made significant strides. Their recent performances, particularly in qualifying, have been commendable.” He believes that the brand’s renewed push might have influenced certain decisions leading to these results.
On comparisons between Pecco Bagnaia’s leadership in MotoGP and Max Verstappen’s in Formula 1, Dall’Igna remarked, “In my view, they might even be better than us. We still have things to learn, but we have a model to emulate. All I can say about Pecco is that he does incredible things.”
Discussing the influence of Formula 1 on MotoGP, especially in terms of aerodynamics, Dall’Igna shared, “I’m not sure if we were inspired by F1. We tried to harness the potential of new and different ideas to enhance the system on bikes. While aerodynamics in MotoGP might seem similar to F1, it’s also used in many other sports, like sailing or the America’s Cup.”
There’s been speculation about Stefano Domenicali potentially purchasing the MotoGP championship. On this, Dall’Igna stated, “Dorna has done an incredible job over the years, making this sport one of the most spectacular in the world. If Liberty Media, which has excelled with F1, were to bring new ideas while retaining what works in MotoGP, it could be interesting.”
Regarding potential rule changes in MotoGP, especially concerning fuel, Dall’Igna clarified, “We will start next year when we’ll have to use 40% non-fossil fuel. We’ll take a significant step towards biofuel in 2027.”
On the topic of Ducati’s dominance in technology and potential concessions to Japanese brands, Dall’Igna emphasized, “It’s the fate of the winner. Everyone else wants to limit the winner’s development. In recent years, Ducati has been constantly targeted. I’ve never asked for a rule change. I simply took advantage of the existing rules, interpreting them to the best of my ability.”
The hottest topic in the MotoGP paddock is Marc Márquez’s potential move to Gresini, possibly alongside his brother Álex. When asked if this bothers him, Dall’Igna responded, “How can it bother me that Marc Márquez wants to race with one of our bikes? It’s a recognition. Honestly, I’m happy that such rumors exist. And the fact that they say Honda wants me, it’s flattering.”
Dall’Igna is confident that these rumors won’t affect Ducati’s top rider, Pecco Bagnaia, or other title contenders like Bezzecchi or Martín. He concluded, “Having strong riders is a team’s primary objective. If that’s not the case, it means you’re weaker. I never thought internal competition would be a problem.”