In the modern jungle of MotoGP, having the most advanced technological arsenal has become as vital as a rider's raw talent to win victories. Marc Marquez, having swapped his Honda for a Ducati at the end of 2023, is immersed in this cutting-edge technological ecosystem and he has his say, as does his Ducati teammate Pecco Bagnaia and the man of the art if ever there was one: Gigi Dall'Igna.
MotoGP, a sporting discipline where technology plays an increasingly important role, raises a fundamental question: is man or machine the determining factor for victory? Ducati riders and engineers, Marc Marquez, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia et Gigi Dall'Igna, shed light on this issue.
In the ultra-competitive arena of MotoGP, where every thousandth of a second counts, the battle between man and machine has never been more intense. Marc Marquez found at Ducati not only the best bike on the grid, but also a cutting-edge technological team, supported by the main sponsor Lenovo, which brings its expertise in artificial intelligence to push the limits of performance.
Marquez, an eight-time world champion, acknowledges that the balance between driver and technology has evolved. The more technology, the less important the pilot or human is “, he summarizes. " You can't do the same thing with a computer from 20 years ago as you can with a computer today. The more technology there is, the more we depend on it.. » However, he tempers his statement by emphasizing that, despite everything, the pilot remains a key element: " with motorcycles, It's always the driver who makes the difference. » But he admits that the driver's share in overall performance has diminished over the years.
Francis Bagnaia, two-time reigning world champion and teammate of Marquez in Ducati, shares this vision while giving greater importance to the human factor. I think it's about 70 to 30%. 70% for people, 30% for technology », He explains. " We need technology, for sure. Lenovo helps us a lot in developing tools to analyze data. But finally, It's the drivers and engineers who make the difference. They work day and night to optimize every detail. »
bagnaia emphasizes the central role of the pilot: “ We train every day to be the best athletes we can be. We guarantee the results. It is demanding work, and people remain at the heart of everything. This is what makes this sport so fascinating. »
Gigi Dall’Igna: “ Telemetry is essential, but for us, the pilot's opinion is and always will be essential. »
Gigi Dall'Igna, the technical genius behind the successes of Ducati, provides valuable insight into the balance between technology and human intuition. Comparing MotoGP to Formula 1, he explains: “ F1 cars can download data in real time, while we in MotoGP, we have to wait until the bike is in the box to analyze the information. Once the motorcycle is stopped, we study its reactions in terms of reliability and performance, then we identify solutions to adjust the settings »
Dall'Igna However, he stresses that despite the growing importance of telemetry, the pilot's opinion remains crucial. Telemetry is essential, but for us, the pilot's opinion is and always will be essential. His comments are the key. The driver is the central axis of everything, because it is an individual sport. He is the one who brings the result home. But the team must also know how to work in harmony to bring about the necessary changes. »
He also addresses the issue of electronics, a sensitive subject in the world of MotoGP. Electronics has a lot to offer, and that's a good thing. But personally, I prefer to limit its use as much as possibleThe presence of electronics makes pilots dependent, but it also brings une plus grande security » Dall'Igna reminds us that technology alone is not enough: “ it always takes someone to make it work. What we develop in MotoGP ends up benefiting production bikes, including aerodynamics »
Alors que le MotoGP continues to evolve, the question of the balance between technology and human talent remains at the heart of the debates. For pilots like Marquez et bagnaia, the machine is an indispensable tool, but it is their talent, their instinct and their ability to push the limits that make the difference on the track. At Ducati, under the visionary leadership of Gigi Dall'Igna, this balance is carefully cultivated, proving that, even in the age of artificial intelligence, the driver remains the soul of this sport.
But one thing is certain: in this ballet between man and machine, it is their perfect symbiosis that continues to captivate and push the limits of what is possible in MotoGP.
