At the beginning of the week, the new MotoGP concessions system was announced, granting benefits not only to Honda and Yamaha for 2024, but also to Aprilia and KTM. Ducati, this year’s champion, will have fewer opportunities to develop the bike. Gigi Dall’Igna, the general manager of Ducati Corse, supported these concession guidelines, even though he tried to prevent them from applying to other European manufacturers.
The Italian explained to the press that despite the limitations imposed on Borgo Panigale’s manufacturer, he is in favor of the measure: ‘I support the concession system honestly, because I think for the show, for the championship, it’s important to give the possibilities to the manufacturers in difficulties to improve. I’m really happy to give the Japanese the chance to recover fast. Anyway we give also to Aprilia and KTM an advantage in comparison with us because we have less tyres to develop the bike during the season, we don’t have the possibilities to do the wildcards. They won some races this season, they’re fighting to win races all the season, this seems quite strange to me’.
The truth is that, despite their efforts, Ducati relented on their intention not to grant concessions to Aprilia and KTM. Dall’Igna explained the reason: ‘It’s unanimous, but we are here, we are part of the show. We considered that supporting the Japanese it’s more important than blocking the concessions to KTM and Aprilia. At the end we are here for the show, and if the show is really good I think it’s better for everyone. I tried to block the concessions to KTM and Aprilia, because at the end it’s concessions also to them, but at the end we have to reach a compromise’.