He's wanted it for a long time, and he's finally got it. And now that he's driven it to a world title on a Ducati as red as the hell it wreaked on the 2025 paddock, Gigi Dall'Igna can finally talk frankly about Marc Marquez.
It is no secret that the revered engineer of Borgo Panigale watched Marc with desire for years. But to say it so openly? This shows how much the project Ducati 2025 was not just a political maneuver.
"I always wanted to have him among my pilots ", coward Gigi with a half smile. He had already shown some very good things in 2023, before Mugello... And given the difference between the 2023 and 2024 bikes, it was huge. »
The nine-time world champion agreed to start from scratch, on a bike he didn't develop, in a team that wasn't his. But like the greatest, he turned it into an absolute weapon.
Marc did not conquer Dall'Igna by his burst of gas. These are other qualities that struck a chord with the rational mind of the Italian engineer:
« What matters in a pilot is not only his piloting, but also his motivation, his determination and the clarity of his decisions », he explains. “ Marc showed that he wanted to get back to his level. He had to sacrifice everything, and that proves how much he wanted to come back. » This return to the top is not just sporting. It is human, mental, methodical.
Gigi Dall’Igna: “ Working with Marc is very easy. He knows how to put everyone who works with him at ease. »
One of the major prides of Dall'Igna This season, it is to have won without benefiting from technical concessions, unlike Yamaha, Honda and KTM.
« All our competitors had dealerships and were able to develop their bikes during the season. We didn't. That's why a huge leap was needed between 2023 and 2024. » It was Marquez who validated, carried and sublimated this leap.
Dall'Igna also emphasizes an aspect that is not very visible on screen, but fundamental in a team: the climate in the box.
« Working with Marc is very easy. He knows how to put everyone who works with him at ease.. For me, this is a clear added value.It definitely makes my life easier. » we read on motosan.
He doesn't just dominate the dance floor. He unites, he inspires, he lifts people up. The ultimate anti-diva. The opposite of what some anticipated when he signed with Ducati.
Marc Marquez never intended to crush Pecco Bagnaia. And yet, the effect is there. It's not that he does anything against his teammates, but He's a difficult teammate, simply because he's very strong. »
bagnaia collapsed under the invisible pressure of a Marc monumental again. Two wins against eleven. And a broken mental momentum. The Italian will survive, but 2025 will remain as a silent slap.
The master of the Ducati racing department remains cautious about what comes next. I don't know what tomorrow holdsThe drivers around him are very strong. But Marc still has years ahead of him to add to his record. We'll take stock when he hangs up his hat. »
In the meantime, Ducati has never been so untouchable. And Gigi Dall'Igna has never been so satisfied. No need to make him dance like TardozziA world title and a motivated champion are enough.
