MotoGP Brno: Exclusive interview with Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Corse

MotoGP 2016 Team Ducati – We met Davide Tardozzi (in the photo with Jorge Lorenzo, ed.), manager of the Ducati MotoGP program, in Brno (the venue of the Czech Republic Grand Prix, eleventh stage of the 2016 world championship). We spoke with him about the Borgo Panigale team's return to victory in Austria, the near future, the next two seasons that will see Jorge Lorenzo riding the Desmosedici GP, passing through the importance of Casey Stoner and the Fenati case.

We come from Ducati's Austrian victory. A return to success that many have been waiting for for a long time. A few days have passed, what are your thoughts?

“The victory gave us the awareness and certainty, having achieved a first and second place, that we were competitive. In all honesty we knew it from the beginning of the championship, this while respecting our opponents, even if at the moment the Yamaha is still a better, more balanced bike. For example, Iannone crashed a couple of times when he was ready to fight for the victory with Lorenzo; I remember Le Mans, rather than Qatar. Even at Mugello, with a good start the victory could have been played for. I then think of Dovizioso, who crashed in Holland, and was "hit" innocently in Argentina and Texas. Apart from the two Spanish races we have always been competitive. We were often in contention for the podium and the victory also came, peremptorily, but I repeat we knew from the start that we had a good bike and good riders.”

How important it is now in perspective. Both for this championship and for 2017, when will Jorge Lorenzo arrive?

“It's definitely important. I believe that this success has given even more certainty to the riders, who are really good. Both Iannone and Dovizioso put a lot of their own into last Sunday's double. They gave the awareness that they could do it in all races. Looking into their eyes I understood that they are aware that they can compete for the podium every Sunday."

When Iannone chose the soft tire on the grid, what were your thoughts?

“No surprise, because he had already decided it since the morning. He was sure he would use that. There were those who wanted to point out that everyone else had a hard tire, but Iannone determinedly wanted that tire since the morning. So he wasn't surprised by this choice. He lined up with the tire from the day before, i.e. the used one. And then he wanted the new one, because it felt good. In testing he had covered a reasonable distance, so he knew this was the right choice. He was very good at managing the race. He won a race by going slow, because he could have gone much, much faster."

This year Casey Stoner is back. Both as a testimonial, but above all as a tester. How important has it been, not so much for the victory but for the whole development, since he tested the bike in Sepang?

“I would say that in the meantime we were highly criticized for this choice, for the fact that we made him try it. And I have always insisted on one thing: the calculations are done in the end. Casey was important, inspiring, decisive for a whole series of situations and I can say that Casey contributed to this double."

The Ducati fans, but also many enthusiasts, would have liked to see him back in action. Was there a moment when you thought he might return or was it just a dream of the fans?

“No, absolutely, we would also have liked to see him on track for a race, and as I have already said and we have said several times, if Casey had asked to race, we would have obliged him. Having said that, he is a person who amazes me more every day. He has very clear ideas, a very clear philosophy of life. He has made decisions and won't change them. He chose a different life. He wants to continue to be a protagonist in some way, in an important project like Ducati's and this pleases him. But in my opinion he has decided to stop and I don't know what can make him change his mind."

Not even "his" Phillip Island?

“I really believe that Phillip Island is the race he doesn't want to do. That being said, I still emphasize how great Casey is. After the race I saw a guy who was really happy with that double, even though the last victory with Ducati belonged to him. He told me: 'I'm happy to participate in this project'.”

You will test at Misano on Tuesday and are developing the bike with a view to 2017. Given that Iannone will move to Suzuki, will he still have updates, if there are any?

“We will go to Misano to test on Tuesday. The bike for 2017 is not yet ready for the official riders. Pirro is developing it. We promised Andrea Iannone that he will have updates on the 2016 Desmosedici and that will be the case. It's clear that the completely new bike, the 2017 one, remains difficult for him to try."

Are you aiming for the title next year with Lorenzo?

“That's the goal. However, Lorenzo has a two-year contract. We would like to aim for the title from next year. It's clear that we gave ourselves two years together with Jorge to be able to do this. But I wouldn't want to forget Dovi (Dovizioso, ed.). He is a rider who could surprise, because as we said before, if he hadn't been unlucky and I rarely talk about unlucky, today he could have been much further ahead in the championship."

Was it difficult to decide who should stay between Iannone and Dovizioso when you announced it at Mugello?

“Saying “a lot” is limiting. We went ahead with this decision, even suffering criticism from many, precisely because it was a difficult choice. The choice was made on the basis of a thousand reasons, it was very painful and we gave a great Iannone to Suzuki!"

Have you got an idea about Fenati's dismissal?

"No. I don't know the facts, except for what I've read in the newspapers and on various social media. Evidently something really serious must have happened if this decision was reached. And Valentino Rossi endorsed this decision, so it must have been particularly "heavy". Just today I read a statement from the family, who will make a statement in the next few days, it is always important to hear the two "bells". I honestly don't know the facts, so it's hard to make a judgment.”

Photos: Alex Farinelli