Many imagine that Gigi Dall’Igna will not be very conscious of what is coming his method. Regardless of his eminently technical vocation, his place as basic supervisor of Ducati implies that his sphere of affect will not be restricted completely to the design of the Desmosedici, essentially the most dominant prototype in MotoGP historical past.
His voice was additionally decisive within the choice to let Jorge Martin go and incorporate Marc Marquez, who this 12 months will type along with Francesco Bagnaia, some of the highly effective line-ups ever.
Between the previous season, during which the Borgo Panigale model dominated once more, and the one that may begin in March, Dall’Igna spoke to Autosport to debate facets that aren’t solely restricted to what occurs on the monitor.
Q. What number of bikes do you’ve gotten at house?
GD: I’ve fairly a couple of, truly. It might be round 10.
Q. Is there any that you simply significantly respect?
GD: There’s a couple of. However all of the bikes deliver unimaginable recollections for me as a result of every season generates conditions, issues, and options. Positive, the bikes which have gained the title are crucial, however each time I preserve a motorbike it is as a result of I’ve a particular reminiscence.
Q. Do you’ve gotten all of the MotoGP bikes?
GD: Not all of them, however I do have a couple of.
Q. Do you want using bikes?
GD: I used to like using bikes; I’ve taken many holidays on a motorbike, however I am not a kind of who go on the monitor. The one drawback I’ve is that it is not one thing that may be loved as a household, and at the moment, I discover it troublesome to search out the required time to journey. Now I restrict myself to taking a journey round the home.
Q. Because you joined Ducati in 2014, the model’s outcomes dynamics have adopted an undeniably upward pattern. This final season has been the most effective of all. Does not it generate a bit of hysteria to at all times be enhancing?
GD: For me, it is necessary to win, to not dominate. When one dominates, you turn out to be unlikeable. I work to proceed profitable, though it could occur that typically we exaggerate a bit and discover ourselves in a state of affairs like the present one. However my objective is to not surpass the earlier 12 months yearly; it is merely to win.
Q. And do you assume that with the numbers you have accrued within the final three years, you are still likeable to another model?
GD: (laughs) For example there are a lot of who see me as unlikeable on this paddock, and I really feel dangerous about it…

Marc Marquez, Ducati Crew, Luigi Dall’lgna, Basic Supervisor Ducati Corse
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
Q. What has been the most important technological advance in MotoGP since you have been in MotoGP?
GD: Certainly the aerodynamic half, which is extra seen on the bike, as a result of it has modified the course of motorbike improvement. However the journey top system has additionally been a good suggestion utilized very intelligently.
Q. How was the concept of the rear journey top system born?
GD: Because it at all times occurs, issues appear a lot less complicated over time than they had been once they had been conceived. The thought is sort of easy and comes from observing telemetry. Earlier than the rear system, we realised that we reached the engine restrict – the purpose the place the bike’s efficiency is proscribed by the engine’s capability – was little or no, as a result of the bike lifted so much. At Mugello, for instance, growing energy by 10 horsepower barely had an affect on lap time, as a result of the bike tended to raise extra. So we centered on considering of a totally automated system in order that the bike would regulate the centre of gravity, relying on every level of using. That was extraordinarily difficult. Then, impressed by all of the issues that System 1 drivers should do throughout every lap, we thought that perhaps the rider may assist us simplify the system. Getting the rider to do one thing extra than simply journey through the race.
Q. After the trajectory that precedes you, particularly within the final three years, do you already know the way lengthy you wish to be in MotoGP?
GD: I’ve finished many issues in bikes since I entered the primary racing division in 1992. The time will come to show off the pc and dedicate myself to one thing else. In any case, the technical stage of the individuals and executives working at Ducati may be very excessive, and I believe the manufacturing facility would handle simply fantastic with out me.
Q. Talking with engineers who had been at Ducati 5, six, or seven years in the past, they highlighted that the extent of technical conferences that had been already happening at the moment was tremendously superior to that of different manufacturers. And now, they are saying that hole has grown way more. How is that this work protocol carried out, and what makes it so superior to the remainder?
GD: The tradition and basic stage of the whole crew should be as excessive as attainable. For that reason, specialist technicians not solely take part in conferences of their space. For instance, in engine-related conferences, I additionally need those that take care of the chassis, electronics, and so forth to attend. As a result of, on this method, everyone seems to be conscious of the issues that others have. This fashion, I attempt to increase the extent of all of them. I need the technical tradition of the motorbike to develop to the utmost stage throughout the racing division.
Q. First Fabiano Sterlacchini left, then Max Bartolini. And Ducati retains profitable, or much more. Why is that this model immune to those exits?
GD: By spreading this stage of technical tradition of the motorbike, we’ve individuals behind who enhance, who prosper, and who’re able to assuming the function of these above them. There’s at all times a substitute inside Ducati. We’re the one ones who’ve by no means gone to recruit anybody from one other model, however we’ve at all times generated the engineers that we later see within the storage.

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Photograph by: Ducati Corse
Q. At what level did you assume it was a good suggestion to permit an impartial crew to struggle for the title on equal phrases with the works crew?
GD: That was at all times my philosophy. Giving Ducati riders the very best materials additionally raises the overall stage of the system, and the manufacturing facility crew additionally advantages from this. If a rider is quicker, the others will comply with.
Q. And was it straightforward to persuade the enterprise facet of Ducati to permit an impartial crew to win?
GD: It is at all times difficult, as a result of there’s at all times a extra necessary crew, and on this case, it is the manufacturing facility one as a result of sponsors pay to be linked to our model. However victories, in actuality, in the event you analyse it nicely, serve everybody. We’re the crew that has at all times fought for the title, since 2021. All those that have trusted us have obtained the visibility they had been searching for.
Q. Is it fallacious to assume that if Ducati wager on Marc Marquez for 2025, they made a mistake since Jorge Martin gained the title?
GD: This was one of many potentialities that would happen. The factor is sort of easy. We wished to maintain all three riders, however the system positioned a number of obstacles in our method, and ultimately, we needed to determine on solely two. At that second, we opted for Pecco and Marc. However after we selected, we already knew that Martin may win the championship.
Q. Was it very troublesome to go for him when he hadn’t but gained a race with Ducati?
GD: We’re all human, and so are the riders. It is necessary to undertaking the extent of progress you receive to attempt to know if it will likely be higher or worse than one other resolution you might need at your disposal. It isn’t a straightforward train, it is not easy, however that is our job. Generally we get it proper and different occasions we make errors as a result of we’re human too.
Q. Does dropping the #1 matter or solely comparatively?
GD: Number one is only a quantity; what issues is that Martin gained the title on a Ducati.
Q. How do you intend to get Marquez and Bagnaia to consider the widespread good within the indications they offer to develop the bike?
GD: I’ve at all times had a number of consideration for what the riders say. However afterwards, the choice of what to do on the bike corresponds to the engineers. Clearly, they take heed to the riders’ feedback, however the configuration is chosen by the engineers. Up to now, we have already made variations between one rider and one other. We’ll at all times attempt to decide the benefits and downsides of 1 resolution or one other, to search for an intermediate choice.
Q. How do you are feeling if you hear that your affect is much like that of Adrian Newey in System 1?
GD: I’ve usually been in comparison with Newey, however the massive distinction between us is that he’s eminently an engineer. Newey makes selections that solely have an effect on the automobile. I, then again, should make selections that have an effect on past the technical side. That have an effect on the riders, the crew, and so forth. I see myself extra as a supervisor than as a technician. That mentioned, I am obsessed with know-how and I’ve to make selections associated to the technical side.

Adrian Newey, Aston Martin System One Crew
Photograph by: Aston Martin Racing
On this article
Oriol Puigdemont
System 1
MotoGP
Ducati Crew
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