Gigi Dall'Igna is the general in chief of Ducati divisions in MotoGP which take on the air of occupation troops, as their domination is displayed more and more obviously. Their end of the season has sounded the alarm in the opposing staffs who will have to show their rapid reaction force from the two days of testing which will begin to brighten up the Jerez site. The Italian lifted the veil on the work plan that will be rolled out on this occasion, while giving an evaluation of the journey carried out this season by the man who affectionately nicknames him “goatee”, Johann Zarco…
Triples in qualifying and racing noted during the last Valencia Grand Prix, the constructors' and teams' titles, five drivers out of six who brought 24 podiums to the season's tally, victories and a promising succession, it's nothing to say that Gigi Dall'Igna has reason to be happy at the moment for its colors Ducati. Moreover, he says: “ there can be no regrets after a season like this, one of the best for Ducati ».
However, it took a Frenchman named fabio quartararo so that the satisfaction does not turn into ecstasy, since the drivers' title could not be won. Since 2007, this objective has been missed. But it was disputed at the official Yamaha , and first by his compatriot Johann zarco. Then the latter went out, leaving room, but too late, for Pecco Bagnaia, now identified as the ringleader.
How to analyze Gigi Dall'Igna the journey of the double Moto2 World Champion? Coldly: “ Zarco had a good season, he was starting to compete for the title, but that has to be the base. Even in 2014 when I joined Ducati my goal was to win the world championship » comments Gigi. “ This is the right mentality to improve. Johann had a good mid-season, then after the summer break he put too much pressure on himself, and this destabilized him a little ". But the general director of Ducati noted a saving rebound at the end of the season: “ in the last races, there was a return to the performances at the start of the year and that gives me hope. He is another strong rider who helped us progress and whom I consider an important pawn in the Ducati system ».
Gigi Dall’Igna: “ Johann Zarco will test the new engine in Jerez«
The place of the Frenchman therefore seems less called into question than that of a Jack Miller For example. But 2021 is over, and we must now look towards 2022. And it begins in the next few hours in Jerez, for two days of testing MotoGP. This is what the man of Ducati says : " we will try completely 'normal' things. These are evolutions of things tried during the season and put aside for whatever reason ».
But still, there will also be heavy… “ There will be the engine which is completely new, it is not in the final version, but we are waiting for some feedback. In the tests, Pecco and Jack will each have a motorcycle with the new engine and a motorcycle at Pramac will be equipped with it, on which Martin and Zarco will take turnst. Marini, Bezzecchi, Bastianini and Di Giannantonio will have the 2021 bikes. Marini will have the official machine from the Sepang tests. In the meantime Luca will have to try lots of new things that he hasn't had this season, like Bastianini ».
Gigi Dall'Ignended with this observation which reveals the progress made since 2014 and which confronts the competition with its responsibilities: “ Ducati has become the benchmark for new technologies, when there is something new, it always comes from Ducati. This makes me proud ". We will have to work hard in Jerez.
