Ducati has revealed its colors and its troops for the 2020 season. Looking at the numbers and the uniform, it seems that there is nothing new under the sun, but between General Gigi Dall'Igna and his soldier of shock Andrea Dovizioso, we notice a lack of cohesion. Thus, while the driver has been asking for years for a chassis that would allow him to quickly pass through curves rather than an overpowering engine, the engineer did not hide during this ceremony that he had spared no effort to further strengthen the mechanical cavalry of the Desmosedici…
What is the real atmosphere like at Ducati ? Statements taken separately, one suspects as a dialogue of the deaf between Andrea Dovizioso et Gigi Dall'Igna. The first has a specific claim for priority in development which does not seem to be exactly the priority of the second. The director of Ducati Corse presented his new GP20: “ I think engine performance is a tool to win races. Honda improved the engine and top speeds last season. We would like to make the difference we had in recent years. » A will which does not go in the direction of a Dovizioso who declared during last season that it was easier to find engine power than to develop an agile chassis in the curves…
However, the same Dall'Igna adds: “ we not only work on the engine, but we pay some attention to the rest in order to achieve the best possible results. » But what will be the new power of the Desmosedici's V4 engine? Theoretically, it should not be missing much to reach the 300 ch. " It is difficult to give the exact value. Engine performance? I am satisfied with the values that we were able to achieve during the winter », comments diplomatically Dall'Igna. Insiders leaked that the Ducati had over 280 hp on the crankshaft two years ago. It is therefore conceivable that the 300 hp mark has already been reached.
But performance doesn't work if it can't be converted to propulsion. Are tires the limiting factor? “ Michelin has done a very good job in recent years of improving tire performance and durability. The new rear tires we will use this season are a step forward from previous tyres”, said Dall'Igna which thus puts its finger on a hidden aspect but which risks proving unavoidable.
« The search for engine performance is important. Lap performance is enough to play the race, overall speed comes first, but top speed is equally important because it is easier to defeat opponents in a straight line rather than in turns » insists one Dall'Igna which seems like responding to the demands ofAndrea Dovizioso… Moreover, he drives the point home: “ These are different problems faced by different technicians. But working on the chassis does not prevent the continued development of the engine. »
This clarification having been made, Dall'Igna opens with the overall work carried out, suggesting that between now and the first Grand Prix in Qatar, the GP20 will surprise… “ There are numerous innovations from every point of view: chassis, engine and aerodynamics. We have worked and will continue to work on the frame, on the swingarm, the aerodynamics will change. The regulations no longer allow you to make big changes in this area, we are stuck from this point of view, but we have worked to improve. We will see during the tests if we did a good job. »
We will therefore see the first results of this research from February 7 on the side of a route of Sepang which will mark the return of MotoGP in this year 2020…
