MotoGP | Dall'Igna (Ducati): “Test with Rossi? We never talked about it."

MotoGP GP Valencia Ducati 2021 – Ducati was a great protagonist in the 2021 MotoGP season.

The Desmosedici took home 7 victories, 4 by “Pecco Bagnaia”, two by Jack Miller and one by Jorge Martin. He also achieved 24 podiums with 5 different riders: Pecco Bagnaia, Jack Miller, Jorge Martín, Johann Zarco and Enea Bastianini. It's a record for Ducati. The second best year was 2019 with 17 total podiums.

For the first time since its debut in MotoGP in 2003, Ducati placed three bikes on the podium in a single Grand Prix, in the last round of the 2021 season, the GP of the Valencian Community, won by Pecco Bagnaia ahead of Jorge Martín and Jack Miller.

For the second consecutive year and the third in its MotoGP history, Ducati won the World Manufacturers' Championship in the premier class. Five drivers contributed to the title victory with 357 total points: Pecco Bagnaia (167 points), Jack Miller (63 points), Johann Zarco (86 points), Jorge Martín (25 points) and Enea Bastianini (16 points) , also winning the MotoGP Team World Championship with 433 points.

55% of the front rows this season were occupied by Ducati motorcycles. Here's what Ducati Corse General Director Gigi Dall'Igna said in the classic end-of-season media debrief.

Statements Gigi Dall'Igna adaptation from Ducati to another bike and vice versa

“It's not an easy question to answer. It's true that riders who left Ducati struggled, but the opposite also happened, as in the case of Jorge Lorenzo, even if in the end Jorge won races. We should ask those directly involved, like Danilo (Petrucci, who moved from Ducati to KTM, ed.). Humanly it doesn't give me satisfaction, especially in Danilo's case, seeing a rider used to fighting for the top struggle is not pleasant and then it's impossible not to become fond of Danilo. It's sad to see a driver who ultimately fails to do what he expects. From a professional point of view it is certainly a small indication, but honestly I prefer to score a hat-trick like in Valencia, this satisfies me."

Statements Gigi Dall'Igna Ducati motorcycle easier to ride?

“We have also won in the past with many riders, Lorenzo, Petrucci, Dovizioso, Iannone, even Bautista had some excellent races. We have also had competitive drivers in the past. We didn't just turn on the lights this season, it was a growth path that brought us this far and which speaks of a bike that has always improved from an adaptability point of view. The goal has always been to make a bike for more riders.”

Gigi Dall'Igna Statements Regrets Ducati MotoGP 2021

“It's difficult to have regrets after a season like ours (Ducati won the constructors' championship and the team championship. It will probably go down in history as one of Ducati's best. In hindsight, there are a thousand conspiracy theories to be made, but they are of no use, what remains is to have contributed to the growth of a rider like Bagnaia who can be a protagonist over the years and to have put together a bike/rider package that can be a protagonist, this is the best and most important thing"

Statements by Gigi Dall'Igna 2021 Ducati MotoGP improvements

“It is not easy to answer, as in the case of “turning” it is never a single thing that puts the whole puzzle in place. Last year we reached the end of a story and the end of mutual trust (talking about Dovizioso, ed.), and this is very important to achieve certain results. This year there was absolute and mutual trust on the part of everyone, technicians towards riders and vice versa and this often makes the difference. The bike has certainly improved and so have the riders, especially 'Pecco' who has made an important step forward. It is never a single aspect that determines the final result.”

Statements Gigi Dall'Igna eight Ducati MotoGP 2022

“Eight bikes may seem like a lot, but in the end I think there are more advantages than problems. To develop a motorbike, statistical data is very important and the more options one has, the more they are able to understand what to do to improve. Managing six or eight bikes is just a question of organization and I believe that Ducati has the means to do it."

Gigi Dall'Igna statements on Valentino Rossi in Ducati

“We never talked about a possible test with Valentino (Rossi, ed.). Asking Valentino for something at this moment seems like an unintelligent thing to me. I don't know what kind of relationship he has with Yamaha and what he intends to do with them. It seems right to me to leave the possibility of deciding to him and in this 'world' Valentino can do what he wants."

Statements by Gigi Dall'Igna rider's World Championship goal not achieved and pride in Ducati technology

“I still can't say 'I've finally done it', in that case we would have achieved our goal which is certainly not this year's. However, there are many things that make not only me, but all the technicians proud. It is undeniable that Ducati has most likely become the point of reference for new MotoGP technologies, most of them and the ideas that can be seen on the bikes came from us and this makes us proud."

Statements by Gigi Dall'Igna Jack Miller MotoGP 2021 season

“Jack was the one who was called upon to do a little more this year. However, the pilot's job is a complicated job and the objective is often not achieved due to trivialities. He had a very good season, achieved two victories, achieved other results such as important podiums. A little more continuity was certainly expected from him, which on some occasions failed. However, we are convinced that he is a strong rider and that he can be decisive, an absolute protagonist. He has all the characteristics to do it, he lacks absolutely nothing."

Statements Gigi Dall'Igna Johann Zarco MotoGP 2021

“Zarco had a good season, he was starting to be in contention for the title, but that must be the basis, even in 2014 when I arrived at Ducati my goal was to win the World Championship. It's the right mentality to improve. Johann had a great half of the season, then after the summer break he put too much pressure on himself and this destabilized him a bit. In the last few races there has been a return to the performances of the beginning of the year and this gives me hope. He is another strong rider who has helped us progress and who I consider an important piece in the Ducati system.”

Gigi Dall'Igna statements on Stoner Coach

“Having Stoner as a coach is a complicated thing, because he lives and has his family on the other side of the world. Both logistically and mentally I see it as something too complicated to implement and I am very pragmatic in things."

Gigi Dall'Igna statements on Test Jerez

“Tomorrow we will try some things that are quite 'normal'. They are evolutions of things tried during the season and for some reason set aside. Instead, there is the engine which is completely new, it is not in the final version, but we expect some feedback. In the tests Pecco and Jack will have one bike each with the new engine and a Pramac bike on which Martin and Zarco will alternate. Marini, Bezzecchi, Bastianini and Di Giannantonio will have the 2021 bikes. Marini will have the official bike from the Sepang tests. Meanwhile, Luca will have to try many new things that he hasn't had this season (same thing as Bastianini, ed.)."