Currently Team Manager of the official Ducati MotoGP team, Davide Tardozzi competed as a rider in 75 World Superbike Championship races, winning 5, including the very first at Donington in 1988. Seven-time Italian Superbike Champion, he then led the Ducati team in WSBK, with riders Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, James Toseland and Troy Bayliss, and the result is 9 drivers' and 15 constructors' World Champion titles.
Davide Tardozzi is part of the triumvirate that runs Ducati Corse, with the General Director Luigi Dall'Igna and the Sports Director Paolo ciabatti.
Davide, what is the situation currently in Italy? There is talk of the reopening of the Ducati factory.
“Ducati activities resumed on a limited basis last Monday. It was in the production area, and we're going to increase it next week. »
“On the other hand, Ducati Corse is still closed. We didn't leave again. We work from home, via Skype. The designers also work at home, in their house, but we don't have much to do (smile) ! »
“As you know, development is stopped according to the regulations, and for the moment we have little to achieve. »
Motorcycle development has been frozen until 2021. Is this an advantage or a disadvantage for Ducati?
“No, I don’t think that’s an advantage. It is completely normal to stop in this moment of great emotion. It's like that everywhere and for everyone. It's a very difficult moment for everyone, for the Europeans Aprilia, Ducati and KTM, but also now for the Japanese. »
“It’s normal that we stop everything. Factories no longer have the financial resources they had before. »
“You have to look at the production. It is certain that we do races to develop motorcycles, technology, but also to make money by selling motorcycles. »
“The most important thing is production. And with the current production situation, it is impossible to do anything more. »
You provide equipment for 6 riders, 50% more than Honda, Yamaha and KTM, and 3 times more than Suzuki and Aprilia. With such a quantity, are you worried about the recovery?
“We already have the equipment for this year. It is certain that we have stopped the manufacture of parts planned for the end of the season, but having the bikes ready for the 6 riders is not a problem. »
Ducati offered only one motorcycle per rider in MotoGP. So what should we do for “flag to flag” races where we change bikes in front of the stand?
“The proposal to use only one motorcycle was only to save money. The idea was to allow teams like Pramac and Avintia to keep some money. »
“But it is obvious that to carry out this proposal, the regulations would have had to be changed. Do as in Moto2 and Moto3. »
“But all that is to be forgotten. Ducati was the only manufacturer to make this offer, and it was just a proposal. I read that a journalist had written “It’s the war between Ducati and Yamaha”, but it was not a war. It was just a proposal. »
“The builders met once via teleconference and everyone made suggestions to save money. It was a proposal, it was not accepted, and it ended like this. If others don't want it, we forget. »
Were you surprised when Yamaha signed Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo very early on, and when Honda signed Marc Márquez for four years?
“I think they did a good thing. It is certain that Márquez is an exceptional driver. Honda understood that having Márquez was more important than the evolution of their bike. They know perfectly well that without Marquez, Honda would have problems. I think keeping Márquez was the only thing on their minds. »
“At Yamaha, they did very well. They were very intelligent. They did this at the right time. I believe Lin Jarvis and Yamaha found a good solution, at just the right time. »
Were you happy with Scott Redding's debut in the Panigale V4 R at Phillip Island, where he finished third three times in three races?
" Yes. I think Scott had a very good first race. He was smart. I spoke with him and he said he could have tried something more. »
“In Superbike, it is very important to score points in every race*. He thought that the time had not yet arrived to attack beyond the limit. »
“I always remember the words of Casey Stoner who said “The first part of the season with the head, the second with the heart.” »
*Redding is second in the Championship with 39 points, behind Alex Lowes with 51, ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu with 34, Jonathan Rea with 32 and Michael van der Mark with 31.
Photos © Ducati
