As sports director, Paolo Ciabatti is one of the top figures at Ducati in MotoGP. However, he may reduce his presence in the project starting from next season, as he is also involved in the motocross program.
The Italian explained to MOW Mag: ‘If we talk about “goodbye”, then there is no truth in it. How can you say goodbye to all of this? Regardless of the possibility of a new commitment, farewells are something else. Yes, it is possible [to see me in fewer races in 2024]. It is no secret that I am working on the off-road project that will lead Ducati to compete in the Motocross World Championship. Motocross was my first great love in this world’.
Despite recognizing the weight that the commitment of MotoGP carries, Ciabatti emphasized that no decisions have been made and highlighted Ducati’s capabilities to succeed even with their eventual departure: ‘MotoGP, especially this year, has been a very heavy commitment. I am 66 years old, I am no longer young, the rhythms are what they are. But no decisions of any kind have been made yet, everything is still in the evaluation phase, so there really is nothing to say in this regard. We are evaluating and I am evaluating, also based on the energy that is still left to spend after so many years. Whatever direction we take, however, Ducati has the capabilities, men, and structures to do well‘.
