Paolo Ciabatti is the first MotoGP sports director to take the stage in the ball of presentations of the forces present in this 2021 season. With three teams allied with the brand he represents, the thing was fatal and it is the Avintia structure which launched the series of discoveries, in the purest style of the free country buffet on the market square. In this case the stall was in Andorra. We can bet that the presentation of the Ducati factory on February 9 will be a little more dapper. Still, the Italian was a little bitter and here's why...
We may turn the situation and the circumstances in every direction, but it is a fact: Paolo ciabatti is the sporting director of the reigning world champion brand: Ducati. What does it matter if Honda was an orphan Marc Marquez and Yamaha had his points amputated after special management of his valve problems. And above all not regulatory. The first crown since the era Casey Stoner of 2007 was acquired.
Unfortunately, that of the drivers was never relevant last year and the one who had finished three times consecutively vice-world champion of Marc Marquez did not renew a contract that had lasted since 2013. The last lease update did not take place. A failure which also loosened tongues, which was not to the taste of the executives of Borgo Panigale.
Exactly, Ciabatta is one of them and Andorra, between two drafts, he did not hide a certain bitterness about his former pilot Dovizioso : " it is obvious that Andrea's words did not please me, but I also have to say that we are focused on this season and the future. We like to remember Andrea's wonderful moments, the results achieved, the 14 victories ».
He adds : " Andrea is the most successful rider with Ducati after Casey Stoner, we have now turned the page. We have integrated young energies into both our team and that of our external teams and focused on them ».
Ciabatti wants to concentrate the points that count on a single driver
« Ducati always wants to be a protagonist, in the past we succeeded with Dovizioso, we finished second in the championship three times behind a phenomenon like Marquez, in 2017, 2018 and 2019 " From this statement, Ciabatta declines the 2021 roadmap of Ducati : " Last year we won the constructors' crown but we haven't been consistent in terms of results. This year, the objective is to have continuity of results, to always fight for the positions that count, but always with the same drivers ».
It remains to be seen which one will have all the attention of Ducati to concentrate the points. A desire which opens the debate on technical favors, even the racing instructions. There is no doubt that the one who, with his Desmosedici, will come out of the two races Qatar with an advantage will have enough to claim preferential treatment for the rest of the 2021 season...
