The year 2023 was filled with successes for Ducati in motorcycling, with titles and multiple victories in both MotoGP and the World Superbike Championship – a trajectory now discussed by the CEO, Claudio Domenicali.
Speaking to Marca, the Italian commented on the events of the season that concluded in November, stating: ‘Better, it’s impossible. Better than this year is impossible, truly because we were first, second, and third in the World Championship. We won the last race, we won the World Superbike and Supersport. Last year, we had won the MotoGP and World Superbike championships, and this year again both. No manufacturer in history had won both World Championships consecutively. Additionally, we won the MotoGP and World Superbike championships with the number 1, something that riders didn’t want because they believed it brought bad luck. So, we even beat bad luck. Álvaro [Bautista] and Pecco [Bagnaia] won with the number 1. The team is very strong. I’m also very happy for Jorge Martín because, in reality, they were almost on par. On the morning of Valencia, they were equal, Jorge was 14 points ahead, but after such a long time, it was as if they were on equal points. That’s why I said that if there was a possibility, the title should have been shared between the two. But it’s not possible, and on Sunday, Pecco was better, won the race, and was strong from the start, forcing Jorge to push hard, which led to some errors. But that’s how sports go, unfortunately, because the one who loses is sad, but Jorge did very well, he has a bright future’.
Domenicali then praised Bagnaia’s achievement in becoming a two-time MotoGP world champion: ‘I believe only the strongest win two titles in a row. In the last 20 years, only Valentino [Rossi], Marc [Márquez], and Pecco. Those are the numbers that say it’.
Regarding 2024, Ducati’s executive foresees a year with many opponents: ‘Jorge Martín has shown that he has grown a lot. Next year, he will be a very strong opponent. Perhaps he deserves to be a champion, but next year he will have Marc, Pecco, [Marco] Bezzecchi… it will be complicated. He will have many rivals. Maybe KTM will grow in the winter; they will have with them [Pedro] Acosta, who is very strong. Maybe Yamaha will grow; we’ll see how Honda will be. The best is the one who wins the championship; we’ll start from scratch again’.