Gigi Dall’Igna, the man behind Ducati’s rise to prominence in the MotoGP world, recently shared his thoughts on the current state of the championship and the rumors surrounding Marc Márquez’s potential move to Ducati.
Reflecting on his journey in the world of motorcycling, Dall’Igna stated: “I feel good 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 foresaw reaching this level. One of the reasons that led me to leave Noale was the feeling that there were no conditions to win the MotoGP World Championship. At that time, I had no interest in facing such a complex and expensive challenge.”
Speaking about Aprilia’s recent progress, especially evident at the Catalunya Grand Prix, Dall’Igna remarked, “Aprilia seems to have made significant progress. Their recent performances, particularly in qualifying, have been commendable.” He believes that the brand’s new momentum may have influenced certain decisions that led to these results.
Regarding comparisons between Pecco Bagnaia’s leadership in MotoGP and Max Verstappen’s in Formula 1, Dall’Igna commented: “In my opinion, they may even be better than us. We still have things to learn, but we have a role model to follow. 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 take advantage of the potential of new and different ideas to improve the system on the bikes. Although aerodynamics in MotoGP may seem similar to that of F1, it is also used in many other sports, such as sailing or the America’s Cup.”
There has been speculation about the possible purchase of the MotoGP championship by Stefano Domenicali. Regarding 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 excelled in F1, brought new ideas while maintaining what works in MotoGP, it could be interesting.”
Regarding potential rule changes in MotoGP, especially regarding fuel, Dall’Igna clarified: “We will start using 40% non-fossil fuel next year. We will 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 is the fate of the winner. Everyone else wants to limit the winner’s development. In recent years, Ducati has been constantly targeted. I have never asked for a rule change. I simply took advantage of the existing rules, interpreting them in the best possible way.”
The hottest topic in the MotoGP paddock is the potential move of Marc Márquez to Gresini, possibly alongside his brother Álex. When asked if this bothers him, Dall’Igna replied: “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 these rumors exist. And the fact that they say Honda wants me, it’s flattering.”
Dall’Igna is confident that these rumors will not affect Ducati’s top rider, Pecco Bagnaia, or other title contenders like Bezzecchi or Martín. And he concluded: “Having strong riders is the main goal of a team. If that’s not the case, it means we are weaker. I never thought internal competition would be a problem.”
