2024 will not only bring Ducati to conquer its titles acquired in MotoGP, WSBK and WSS, but will also open a new front that of motocross. And the Borgo Panigale firm is not going there to make up the numbers. Paolo Ciabatti was specially dispatched to order a new structure that category legend Tony Cairoli will be keen to direct and energize? The fact remains that this new string to the Ducati bow will lead to the development of a 250 four-stroke single cylinder. An architecture which is the one which makes Moto3 run, a discipline which Gigi Dall'Igna has been thinking about since 2017. And the big boss Claudio Domenicali seems to make him understand that he is right not to lose hope...
The big news at Ducati for the 2024 season is the entry into motocross with the hiring of Tony Cairoli, snatched from KTM to test the studded wheel motorcycle from the Borgo Panigale company. The project is supervised by Paolo ciabatti, who left his position as sporting director of Ducati Corse to embark on the new adventure. An approach that will revolve around an engine that could just as well do the job in Moto3... Which the CEO does not disagree with Claudio Domenicali published in the Gazzetta dello Sport and relayed by motograndprix ...
« There are several points in common between cross and Moto3 engines, but the 250 4T GP engines are very competitive » begins the boss. “ To create a Moto3, you have to think about a specific project, which does not present any particular complications ».
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati: “ if we wanted to get into Moto3, I think that very quickly we could have a very competitive bike and a very fast engine »
Certainly, but what does that mean? Neither more nor less than this… “ If we wanted to go into Moto3, I think that very quickly we could have a very competitive bike and a very fast engine. In cross country we are in a learning phase. In Moto3, we would be on the asphalt, our terrain, so it's a potentially interesting project. Now we don't want to open too many fronts, but you should never say never ».
Claudio Domenicali ends by stopping on the path traveled by Ducati since the arrival of Gigi Dall'Igna: “ we have successfully completed a project started a long time ago. When Gigi Dall'Igna arrived with us in 2013, we had a team in great difficulty and he knew very well how to get the most out of the competent people who were at Ducati. Today, the results have paid off very well for us, as the team has continued to grow ».
He adds : " our merit is that we invested even when the results were good, but not extraordinary. We have been close to the world title on several occasions, so you could see we were close to our goal. Sometimes we couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. But today we often score goals ».
