At Ducati, Marc Marquez is no longer content with just winning: he's captivating those who thought they'd seen it all. After his dominant performance at the Malaysian Grand Prix, Gigi Dall'Igna and Davide Tardozzi heaped praise on their rider. Their admiration was almost unreserved, even though the Spaniard, still hampered by injuries, had just secured his seventh victory of the season and moved closer to a tenth world title.
But behind this celebration there is also an embarrassing contrast: while Marquez is making the Desmosedici sublime, Pecco Bagnaia still can't figure out how to use his Ducati.
Dall'Igna: " I think Marc Marquez has fantastic talent »
The general manager of Ducati Corse did not hide his admiration after the Sepang victory.
“ Marc had a fantastic race. It wasn’t an easy day. He had to manage his tires well and drive fast, two difficult things to achieve. And he managed to do it brilliantly .” For Gigi Dall’Igna , performance goes far beyond pure speed. “ I think he’s the driver who knows best how to adapt. ”
The Italian engineer emphasizes this exceptional ability to understand the limits of the machine, but also his own. " He knows how to adapt and, if he finds the solution, he makes the most of both the motorcycle and his physical capabilities. I think he has fantastic talent, and I congratulate him ."
This is probably the most telling compliment: Marquez doesn't just ask Ducati to provide him with the best bike. He figures out how to win with the one he has.
Tardozzi: “ A champion of this caliber is unprecedented »
Davide Tardozzi went even further. " I want to congratulate Marc, because he rode a perfect race. A champion of this caliber is unprecedented ." And the Ducati Lenovo team principal added: " He continues to surprise us ; his physical limitations are no obstacle for him thanks to his mental strength ."
The statement takes on a particular significance given Marquez 's persistent pain in his right shoulder and arm. At 33 , the Spaniard no longer possesses his full physical capabilities. Yet, he continues to push the boundaries of what his managers thought possible.
" I think the partnership between Marc and Ducati is essential ." It's hard to express more clearly the place that number 93 now occupies in Borgo Panigale.
Marc Marquez's genius? Knowing when not to win.
Dall'Igna also praised a less spectacular aspect of his champion: his risk management. On Saturday, during the Sprint won by Pedro Acosta , Marquez accepted second place. " It's a strategy that, in my opinion, only the best riders adopt ."
For the Italian engineer, knowing when to forgo victory when the risk becomes excessive is a rare quality. The next day, Marquez changed tack: domination, tire management, and victory. Two races, two strategies, the same understanding of the championship.
With a 44- point lead over Jorge Martin , this maturity could well make the difference in winning the title.
And meanwhile, Bagnaia leaves Ducati perplexed.
The enthusiasm of the club's leaders contrasts sharply with their dismay regarding Pecco Bagnaia . When questioned about the technical difficulties mentioned by the Italian, Tardozzi replied, " Honestly, I don't know what he's talking about ." Then he admitted, " We've considered everything, but we're at an impasse ."
Ducati claims to have developed specific solutions for Bagnaia , but without managing to resolve his difficulties. Tardozzi emphasizes that the machines of Marquez, Bagnaia, and Alex Marquez are based on a comparable technical foundation.
This statement does not mean that their settings or sensations are identical. But it reinforces a question: why is Marquez able to exploit this Ducati where Bagnaia finds himself at a loss?
So, what do we remember?
- Dall'Igna: Marquez possesses exceptional adaptability and race intelligence.
- Tardozzi: his mental strength compensates for his ever-present physical limitations.
- Ducati: admiration for Marquez contrasts with Bagnaia's technical impasse.
Dall'Igna designed the Ducati. Tardozzi manages those who make it win. But listening to them today, Marquez is still teaching them something in MotoGP : how far an exceptional rider can push their machine.
