Dall’Igna: “To win this championship it is essential to give everything”

Before he joined Ducati in 2014, the Borgo Panigale factory bike was only competitive with Casey Stoner.situation changed with the advent of Gigi Dalligna. Today the Ducati Desmosedici is considered the best MotoGP bike, the most competitive and the easiest to ride. A statement evidenced by the fact that five riders have finished on the podium so far this season. , acceleration, and top speed. The difference is that in the pre-Dall’Igna era, it has cycle parts that are effective on all types of circuits, including those considered taboo in the past.

Aerodynamics, electronics, height adjustment, all sorts of “inventions” are continuously developed, and every time an enemy approaches, Dall’Igna and his “diabolical” engineers invent something new. “Even at night I dream of a Ducati,” MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo once said sarcastically.

Numbers are numbers…

That’s true. I can honestly say that at Ducati Corse we are happy and proud of the work we have done over the years. Hopefully this helps you understand what we’re here for. If not this year, maybe next year.

When you run into Japanese engineers in the paddock, do you think they see you chasing you with a stick like a demon king?

At the MSMA (World Championship Manufacturers Association) meeting they don’t hit me with canes, but they probably hit me with something worse… [risas] Seriously, this is life anyway. We follow the rules we have imposed ourselves, with the exception of some changes in rules that we consider less appropriate.

“I always wanted to be a physicist, but I realized I was stupid and became an engineer.”

Did you play with Lego as a kid and invent the impossible?

No, it was fun when I was little. I do a lot of things, but I’m always a normal person. My current self, as I wish. I think friendship is an important part of being human, so someone who believes in friendship.

Was it your childhood dream to become a racing engineer?

No, it wasn’t. I am passionate about technology, physics. I wanted to study physics in college, but I always thought I wasn’t smart enough to study physics. Ultimately, I chose engineering, which is the slightly more practical part of technology. Motorcycles have always been my passion, but I have always followed car racing. When I graduated from college, my first job was in a car, not a motorcycle. To be honest, I never thought about working in racing for the rest of my life. The first goal was to do his first two years. Because I believed that racing was a learning facilitator. Instead, I am still here after 30 years…but very happy.

Does F1 appeal to you from a technical point of view?

I think every engineer would want to work in F1. From a technical point of view, it’s the maximum expression of development pushed to the limit and budget not too constrained. And this is a fundamental element of technical development in racing.

Let’s talk Ducati. The numbers are impressive. Bagnaia has won four races in a row and has won 10 of the last 20 races. Which of these two achievements is the best?

I think it’s more difficult to win 4 in a row than 10 out of 20. Pecco is an extraordinary pilot. I don’t know if it’s this year, but he’s a rider destined to write motorcycle history. the numbers say. His winning races this year was not due to technical superiority. In fact, there have been faster drivers on track than him in recent races. A great champion is someone who can win without any technical advantage.

Which Ducati number are you most proud of this year?

There might be 5 different riders on the podium… The goal has always been to make the bike adaptable to more riding styles and more tracks. I think focusing on a single driver is completely wrong, at least from a technical point of view. A single rider can often cover any problem a bike can have, so finding a bike that can push you to your limits in a variety of riding styles is essential.

In the final victory at Misano, there was a margin of just 1 in 34,000 between Bagnaia and Bastianini. Is this the difference between GP22 and GP21?

No, I don’t think so. Enea also has a bike that has evolved throughout the year, not his bike from the previous year’s classic with no evolution. It’s part of the Ducati philosophy. Try to get as many competitive bikes on the track as possible. I think it’s important. Probably only Ducati does something like this at the moment. This will put pilots on track who will later be part of the official team, especially from a sporting point of view. Certainly 34/000 he is not the difference between GP21 and 22. Because 21 has evolved over the years. Both are very successful bikes.

They started the season with some difficulties. Bagnaia is probably the problem that prevents him from being number one in the rankings. Was it a good choice to start with GP22 instead of taking a safer bet and developing over the course of the season?

I think we made the right choice. We started to believe that anything we wear can be positive.

I think I was able to provide what I needed just in time. I had a slightly less competitive start than I expected, but I have to say that the Ducati technicians did a great job in finding a solution to the problems we had in the first race of the season.

Were these early problems due to the few days of testing or the conditions of testing?

Testing days are always too short for us engineers. It is true that last year was a special year. We went to Mandalika, a new circuit with harsh weather conditions. Next year will be even worse, with fewer days of testing. So we have to learn from this year so as not to make the same mistakes… Developing new components is going to be more difficult.

Let’s talk about the sporty side of this season. Some people think technology has gone too far. It mentions developments such as aerodynamics and height adjustment systems. What do you think about that?

MotoGP is not a superbike. MotoGP is special because it represents the best of the world of motorcycling technology. That is why, in my opinion, there must be the possibility of innovation, the possibility of putting various technical solutions on track, the possibility of development. There is none. Shows can also be generated by the technical part motorcycle enthusiasts watch or the evolution of motorcycles. Limiting MotoGP in this aspect would align it with superbikes. On the one hand, in my opinion, the lack of entertainment on the track is not true at all. Was the final lap at Misano between Bagnaia and Bastianini beautiful or not? I think it was a formidable lap for all the fans at home. it was a show.

So the current approach to MotoGP is right for you.

Yes, I think so. Without going any further, how many overtakes did you see here at Motorland last year between Bagnaia and Marquez?

You mentioned the previous duel between Bagnaia and Bastianini in Misano. It seemed great to me, but you suffered a lot in the Ducati box, right?

Yes, obviously we suffer. I knew I told the drivers before the race. It was important for us to bring back the World Championship that Ducati has missed for far too long. That’s why it’s imperative that we do everything in our power to win this championship. That’s why I told them to be very careful and not to risk a duel with Pecco. Of course, winning is very important for any driver at this point in the season. Every pilot should have the option to win the open. We must be honest and human. You have to ask drivers and collaborators what they can say yes to.

“Eight Ducatis on the grid? …because we believe that if a team rents a bike from us, they will get better results than others for the same price if they rent a bike from us. , we won’t let go of the bike”

What about the criticism of having eight Ducatis on the track?

As always, at Ducati we respect the rules. So far there is no rule that he cannot have 8 bikes on the track. We don’t give away the bike, we rent it at a fixed price. So when teams rent bikes from us, they think our bikes do better than others for the same price. So it should come as no surprise to us that he has eight Ducatis on the track.

You said you were paying for bikes that were raced by non-factory teams. Would it be fair for Ducati to ask these private riders from his team to play as a team, for example a team where finishing first or second makes a big difference he Gresini.

We can finally ask him. Then it’s up to the team or driver to decide if it’s right. What we have been asking our drivers to do so far is to avoid throwing peckos. I think that’s a perfectly legitimate and sportingly correct request.

How do you see the end of the championship?

going to be tough. There are many points that must be redeemed. Therefore, we should not think about championships at this time …

But why not consider the championship just around the corner?

I have to think about doing my best in each race.

What makes the Bagnaia better than other Ducati riders?

Braking is Bagnaia’s best at the moment, braking and corner entry. He is one of the best interpreters of this phase of piloting today. Quartararo is also very strong in braking…both weapons that handle very well.

The idea of ​​a sprint race, for or against?

i like them Those are races where you can give it without thinking about tire consumption… one knows you can go out and give 100% from start to finish. Better. I think it will be a more spectacular race than a normal race.

At Misano, Andrea Dovizioso retired completely. Ducati As a rider he has had eight great years, but at the same time there have been moments of great tension. If it wasn’t for that tension, wouldn’t you have been able to win?

I think things were a little different. At its peak, relationships in the box were peaceful. After that, there may have been some tension outside the GP weekend, but I have to say that everyone worked very professionally during the GP. I don’t think I could have done more if the climate had been different.