The time has come to settle the accounts for an Andrea Dovizioso free of all obligations in 2021. He can thus express himself and he apparently has something to say about his eight years spent at Ducati. He has been letting loose for a few days, but in no way against the brand whose potential and qualities he praises. However, everything is under the rule of an all-powerful Gigi Dall'Igna who would not tolerate contradiction. Here is Andrea Dovizioso’s version…
Andrea Dovizioso recounts his period in great detail Ducati or at least its cohabitation with Gigi Dall'Igna, whose druid appearance suddenly takes on that of an evil devil if we follow the reasoning of the three-time vice-world champion. It is clear that the two men are in conflict and given the turn of events which led to their separation, they will undoubtedly be irreconcilable for a long time.
Still in the columns of the Gazette, Dovizioso goes into a little more detail on what he has already revealed. He begins with this harsh observation: “ to get along with Gigi, you must not oppose him ". Alas, this is what Dovi did, with his team: “ by supporting certain ideas, we came into conflict. Gigi felt...hit, attacked. For me he closed the doors, but he closed them by remaining silent ».
Concretely, this translated as follows: “ there were no more appointments to develop the bike. However, at Ducati there is the potential to do it, the skills are very high. This is the only thing that makes me angry about these 8 years, difficult but spectacular: with a different approach we could have done more. Since 2017 with Gigi, we have not spoken. By arguing and getting into conflict, my team and I became a little isolated. We no longer talked about developing the bike ».
A screed of lead that he regrets all the more since with other manufacturers, transparency is more required. The Italian thus recalls the case Yamaha in 2018 : " other manufacturers gave lectures to apologize to pilots, they never did ". On the other hand, the collateral effect is violent for the pilot: “ the Ducati rider has more and more pressure. “We can do more, we can do more,” and it’s true. And whether you are second in the world championship or first or third Ducati, that is always said. As long as you're okay, but as soon as you're bad...boom, disaster. One race, two, one year, two, you find it hard to relax ».
Dovizioso: “I gave my soul to Ducati”
From there, Dovizioso reveals his resentment and his incomprehension at having been esteemed as someone who never gave all that he could deliver: “ I remember the good results in 2017, 2018 and a bit of 2019 which were spectacular. The identity “DesmoDovi” was not a name put like that. I gave my soul, I really believed in this project. Unlike some people at Ducati who always saw that I wasn't trying hard enough …Those who have seen this are really limited, read some If anyone thinks that I didn't put in effort and dedication, that's totally wrong. And they should change jobs ».
Dovizioso ends with a behind-the-scenes episode from the 2020 season in which he considers himself to be the joker: these are the facts of the case Yamaha , who, according to him, was not sufficiently penalized for having intervened on the valves of his engine despite the development freeze. At the time, however, Ducati made no appeal, a choice that Dovizioso considered purely economic: “ it does not mean anything. If it is recognized that something was done outside the rules, there is not only a penalty for the manufacturer but also for the drivers. Ducati, if it had been correct, should have told me and we could have reacted within the limits possible. It didn't happen and it cost me 3rd place and a lot of prize money ». Most Ducati is World Constructors’ Champion…
